For most of us, it’s kinda exciting to see the pumpkins on sale in the supermarkets…
But for some of us, pumpkins, spiders, witches, bats….. can trigger off a phobia. And that’s NOT fun.
SO – Here is my advice on how to handle Halloween when you have a Halloween phobia.
1. TRY SHOCK THERAPY AND COME FACE TO FACE WITH YOUR HALLOWEEN PHOBIA (OPTIONAL).
Hiding away is easy, but can you do it for the whole of October?
Nope – I didn’t think so! So, you’re going to have to face your halloween phobia at some point, and what better way to do it than with a support buddy.
Here’s what you are going to do: Ask someone close to you to go out with you, and head on over to the supermarket….. get your buddy to go in and work out where your phobia is likely to be lurking, and then when you feel ready, take a walk down that aisle together and see if you can confront it.
Facing your fear can sometimes be the thing that gets you over it, and when it comes to Halloween, we can sometimes be holding onto the fear about fear, or an experience from childhood. If you are able to do this step and feel amxious, but okay with it then this disempowers your fear and puts you back in the drivers seat.
NOT UP FOR THIS STEP? Then still head out with a support buddy and ask them to let you know where the plastic spiders are for example, in your local supermarket so that you can have a plan of action and try and avoid them.
2. GO BACK TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR PHOBIA AND FACE YOUR FEAR THERE.
Close your eyes, and go back to the time (if you can remember it that is), when your phobia was created. Let yourself feel it…
REALLY FEEL IT..
And then when you feel ready to do so, confront your fear…. tell the thing (pumpkin, spider, snake etc) that it has no power of you. then imagine that it is shrinking before your very eyes. MAKE IT SMALL, TURN IT BLACK AND WHITE AND THEN WATCH IT FADE AWAY…
How would you rate your fear now? Do this again if you need to, and know, that all a phobia is, is a fear that was created when you were most likely little, and you are a grown up now – you can talk to the little person inside of you, and tell them that there is nothing to be scared of.
Don’t hide away – if something is making you feel so anxious that you avoid going into public places, then it is time to deal with it. Book A CLARITY CALL with me and let’s talk about how I can work with you to remove your phobia or fear.
Halloween is supposed to be a little scary, but if letting it get the better of you – there IS something you can do about that.
Besdies, Halloween can also be FUN – so don’t let a phobia spoil that for you.
Until the next time,
Chris.