For Media Inquiries, please contact:
Brittany Conklin, Program Relations Specialist, Compass Mental Health
602-633-6214
brittanyc@compassmentalhealth.com
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Phoenix doctor shares tips on coping with holiday stress
by Connie Cone Sexton
The Arizona Republic
December 23, 2011
Even non-procrastinators can be prone to stress this time of year.
The added expectations of the holiday season can easily throw anyone into a scramble, said Dr. Kevin Alexander, chief clinical officer at Compass Mental Health, 4550 E. Bell Road, in northeast Phoenix.
Compass is a crisis-response company that also offers counseling and life planning services.
Planning is the key to curtailing stress this time of year when we have so many added
events in our lives, he said.
“We have enough on our plate as it is. We have work, we have to take care of the kids, go to events at their school, think about what we’re going to get for our colleagues at work. All those things going on,” he said. “We can only tolerate so much.”
Part of the problem is that we set ourselves up for stress because of expectations that are too high — of ourselves, of our family, our friends.
“It’s got to be the perfect holiday. Or I have to have the perfect gift for my wife, only I’m
supposed to know what this is without talking to her,” Alexander said.
As for our expectations of others, we may have a certain idea in our head, but we “don’t
communicate to them clearly what we need from them and that leads to them not
following through,” he said. It’s a clear sign that communication has broken down.
So what to do? Find some balance and approach the holidays with a more rational
approach, Alexander suggested. It’s a matter of using time management and resource
management.
The tools are important to put in place, with the coming new year.
As we roll into 2012, we need to let go of the stress of the holidays, if we can have any
shot at creating a good start of the year. “We need to be taking time for ourselves,”
Alexander said. “Go to the gym. Walk for half an hour. Watch your diet.”
And as we make our resolutions, he suggests that we look back on the year and consider what went right.
“We tend to focus on the things that went wrong and not the things that went well. It’s
that pessimistic perception that creates a lot of pressure,” he said. “Think back on what was fun and exciting this year and try to do more of that.”
Tips to deal with holiday stress
by Catherine Holland
azfamily.com
December 12, 2011
PHOENIX — “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” So says the popular Christmas song.
Of course, it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year. Just ask anyone who has relatives coming to town and has yet to finish holiday shopping.
Dr. Kevin Alexander of Compass Mental Health sat down with Scott Pasmore to explain how holiday stress can take a toll on your body if you’re not careful. He also offered some tips to help you keep the stress to a minimum.
Compass Mental Health is located at 4550 E. Bell Road, Suite 147, Phoenix. For more information, call 602-633-6200 or visit www.compassmentalhealth.com.