OKLAHOMA CITY –
Sunbeam Family Services says many Oklahomans experience heightened stress and worsening mental health symptoms during the holiday season, and the organization is offering resources to help people cope.
In a News 9 interview, Angie Doss, chief development and marketing officer for Sunbeam Family Services, said about one in five adults in Oklahoma live with a mental health condition, and nearly two-thirds report that symptoms worsen during the holidays.
Doss said shorter days, early sunsets and financial pressure from gift-buying and family expectations often intensify stress.
“Everything comes at once when you’re supposed to be slowing down and enjoying your family,” Doss said.
Coping strategies
Doss shared grounding and relaxation techniques, including slow breathing, light tapping on the collarbone, and grounding by placing hands on the legs or naming five nearby objects.
Doss said Sunbeam offers sliding-scale counseling with both in-person and virtual appointments. She said talking with a professional can help people understand and ease overwhelming emotions.
“it’s so important because I think once you start talking about your feelings and what you’re experiencing,” Doss said. “You’re going to feel relief, you’re going to feel better.”
Sunbeam encourages anyone struggling with holiday-related stress to reach out for help. More information is available on Sunbeam Family Services’ official website.