“Halloween and Mental Health: Navigating the Spooky Season”

Welcome to the Spooky First Blog Post of Eric Winton Counseling!

As I write this, Halloween is just around the corner, making it the perfect time to discuss the connection between Halloween and Mental Health.

Before we begin, a story. Maybe even… a scary story! Well, for this author anyway. When I started to write this first post I had the idea of exploring fear. After all what a great topic for Halloween right?! Ideas came rolling in like a thick dense fog over the moor. The psychology of fear! Types of fear! Various phobias! I could even include differing cultural histories and approaches to fear! I suddenly became a bit overwhelmed and, wait for it… afraid. Afraid of the enormous subject matter I was trying to tackle in a brief post that could easily end up being a book if I was going to truly going to give it the depth it would deserve and require. So I landed on something a bit more modest and admittedly obtainable for my very first blog post. A brief overview of navigating the Holiday of Halloween when considering Mental Health.

Holidays, including Halloween, can have a profound impact on individuals, and it would be impossible to cover every aspect in one brief article. As I often emphasize in my social media posts, "context and nuance matters." Each person has their own unique experience, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer, approach or example that can apply to everyone. With that in mind, let's get started! 

 Halloween is a complex holiday. It's like a roller coaster ride of potential emotions - there's the fun, fear, excitement, surprise, expectation, anticipation and the chance to play different roles and explore alter egos with costumes. Plus, who can forget the parties? The parties and the treats. And occasionally tricks or pranks? Halloween and spooky scary movies can be a blast. I have enjoyed some fantastic Halloween Parties with amazing costumes complete with Haunted Houses and when I was younger… yes a prank or two may have even been played. I have noticed that as I have gotten a bit more gray around the edges (and not from my costume makeup) that some of those tastes have mellowed just a bit. Sort of like my former interest in roller coasters. But here's the thing, not everyone enjoys roller coasters. Some people absolutely hate them and can find find Halloween similarly to be unnerving. Unnerving not in a good way.

For those who have had painful memories or traumatic experiences in the past, celebrating Halloween can be a challenge. If you didn't grow up in a safe environment where caregivers were reliable and appropriately protective, going to a haunted house or attending a costume party with strangers may be the last thing you want to do.

So, what's the solution? Maybe you like some aspects of the spooky season, but not all of it. Perhaps all your friends are excited about Halloween, but it makes you uncomfortable or brings up past trauma. A key is to take some time to reflect on your own emotions and desires when it comes to celebrations like Halloween. Taking time to explore your own emotional awareness. What feels safe and enjoyable to you as apposed to just going along with what others invite, or maybe expect from you. Perhaps even reviewing and considering revising what you might expect from yourself.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to Halloween celebrations. It's all about your personal context and experiences. If going to a big party and a haunted house is not your pick of poison (pun intended), don't force it. Instead, maybe cozy up at home with some popcorn and a movie, and invite a friend or two who can relate to how you feel. Halloween, and any Holiday for that matter should be about enjoying yourself and celebrating in a way that is meaningful for you.

At the end of the day understanding that your mental health, and your emotional, psychological and physical well being is so much more important than a party or evenings gathering.

And for those that might be reading this that are all about the Ghosty and Ghoulish celebrations, perhaps practice some awareness, empathy and compassion for those who do not see the Holiday in the same light as yourself.

I hope with whatever path you choose for this Spooktacular Season that you will be kind to yourself, and one another.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for our next Blog Post exploring Emotional Awareness.