BAKERSFIELD, California — Thanksgiving is in a few days and plenty of people are rushing to finish holiday preparations.

Mental Health experts Eyewitness News spoke to say it can be an extremely stressful time for some people but that there are several ways they can cope.

These feelings are going to come up and hit you in unpredictable ways. That is okay,” said Dr. Corey Emanuel, a psychologist.

Dr. Emanuel said it is important for people to allow themselves to acknowledge they are feeling stressed and to avoid ignoring it.

He also advises people to avoid coping with feelings of stress by using alcohol or abusing substances.