BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The holidays are here — a joyous time for many, but also a season that can be tough for others facing the holiday blues.

Jessica Cason, executive director of Aspire Counseling Services, says her organization sees an increase in patients seeking help with substance and alcohol abuse right now and following the holidays.

"What that's coming from a lot of the time is the increase financial stress, family conflict around the holidays, the change in routine," Cason said.

"They are utilizing alcohol or substances as a coping mechanism for those emotions and that stress and those feelings," Cason said.

Cason explains that for some, the hardest part of the holidays isn't financial stress or family conflict — it's the loneliness and grief that come with spending the

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