People suffering from anxiety can be easily triggered by specific Halloween traditions such as Trick or Treating. Read this post for tips on easing anxiety on Halloween.
I love Halloween. However, plenty of friends hate Halloween because it’s a source of anxiety for them. From triggering haunted house screams to children constantly ringing their doorbells, Halloween can easily provoke automated negative emotional responses that lead to stress.
Many adults and younger children experience heightened anxiety levels during Halloween. First-time trick-or-treaters may be nervous about people’s reactions to their costumes or bumping into scary, horrific costumes. In addition, adults experiencing symptoms of PTSD may feel stressed not knowing who’s under the costume or have a traumatic flashback.
Feeling anxious is normal, especially around this time of year. So, here are five ways you can ease anxiety around Halloween.
How To Ease Anxiety On Halloween
Remember That You Don’t Have To Answer The Door
There’s a lot of pressure for adults to hand out candy on Halloween. However, you don’t have to participate in this tradition. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event or have extreme social anxiety, don’t participate in handing out candy, as it may impact your general mental health. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween and engage the children without doing so.
For example, you may leave a massive bowl of wrapped candy outside your door and allow children to pick it out themselves. You could also delegate this Halloween task to someone else in the family. Remember to also have some safety measures in place in case of emergency.
Set Some Ground Rules
If you’re prone to anxiety or nervousness around Halloween, you must set some ground rules. First, take some time to think about how you want to celebrate this year and what needs to be done for you to feel comfortable and safe. Then, set rules about costumes, answering the door, and anything else that may trigger your anxiety. Some standard ground rules for celebrating Halloween are:
No one travels alone.
Everyone needs to check in with each other every XYZ hour or time.
There needs to be at least one utterly sober person.
Don’t answer the door for anyone without a parent.
Have some emergency safety measures in place.
Don’t Be Hard On Yourself
It’s okay to experience anxiety or fear around Halloween. It happens. Learn to recognize these emotions and find healthy coping mechanisms for managing them. Don’t punish yourself for not wanting to celebrate or being in the spirit of Halloween. It will not make you feel better. Instead, allow yourself to feel these emotions and be mindful of how they affect you.
Make Sure To Take Care Of Yourself
One of the most important things you can do to ease your anxiety around Halloween is to practice self-care. Halloween challenges you to challenge yourself mentally and physically in ways that you usually wouldn’t. Practicing some Halloween self-care will help you check in with yourself and ensure you’re feeling okay. In addition, Halloween is the perfect holiday for having fun, doing something crazy, and treating yourself to anything silly that will make you feel happy.
Take A Break From Halloween
If Halloween is causing too much stress and anxiety, take a step back from it this year. It’s okay not to dress up, hand out candy, or do anything Halloween-related. October 31st is still an average day, and you can treat Halloween as that. Do nothing and participate in your usual daily routines. Taking a break from Halloween will help you not feel pressured into participating in the holiday’s yearly traditions.
Final Thoughts
Fear and anxiety are natural responses from the brain against perceived danger and threats. Developing healthy coping mechanisms and understanding your anxiety will help you better navigate Halloween and other holidays.