Halloween is right around the corner (literally, it’s tomorrow) and is the spookiest time of year. For so many it’s seen as a time to get creative, dress up and have a whole lot of fun! Staples of this time of year are gory images, frightening haunted houses, and fighting through large crowds of people trying to get as much candy as possible. While all of these things can be part of the fun festivities, they also can elicit very real feelings of fear, panic and PTSD.
If you are someone who easily scares, Halloween may be a dreaded time of year for you. So whether you love this time of year or fear it, here are some tips to manage your own mental health during this spooky time.
- Know your limits: are you ok with seeing a scary movie, but haunted houses raise your cortisol levels too high and cause a panic attack? That’s ok! If you need to sit out on some of the Halloween traditions to keep your emotions in check, no stress. There is no right way to celebrate a holiday and knowing what you can tolerate will help you say “no” to events that are going to trigger those difficult emotions.
- Practice mindfulness/utilize mantras: you can use this time to really hone in on your mindfulness practice. Using mantras or meditation can help ground yourself in the present and calm your mind, body and soul; reminding yourself that you are safe and that the fear you are experiencing is temporary.
- Keep a self-care routine: this is a great time to pull out your self-care toolbox to stay in control of your emotions. Whether that’s putting on a fun, lighthearted movie, cooking a comforting meal, or spending time with your favorite book, using the things that keep your mental health in shape is critical during times of heightened stress.
- Lean on your support system: use the people in your life who support you. Maybe you can plan some fun, fall activities that are scare-free with your friends and family or you just ask your friends to check-in with you a few more times than they typically do. Your support system is there to help you, so why not use it when you need it!
- Talk to your therapist: there is no shame in bringing these feelings up to your therapist. This could be a perfect time to process how you’re feeling and explore some of the roots that exist that contribute to these feelings. Don’t have a therapist? Maybe this is the perfect time to consider talking to someone! Halloween is just the beginning of the busy holiday season, which can bring up all sorts of other emotions, so why not get established now and set yourself up for success going into the end of the year!