The University Clinic of Navarra suggests how to overcome fear and phobias on Halloween, the scariest night

With the arrival of Octobertemperatures begin to drop and trees begin to lose their leaves, signs which will later give way to winter.

But before entering November, there is a very popular festival among young people that cannot be ignored: Halloween. The streets will be filled with boys and girls hiding behind masks, sheets and face painttaking out their most terrifying costumes to return home loaded with trinkets.

That night of fears This can be fun for many, but there are people who don’t handle these kinds of terrifying topics very well, which can provoke them serious health problems.

Halloween, a celebration originating from Anglo-Saxon countrieshas gained great popularity throughout the world, including in Spain, where it is becoming more and more popular every year. On this date, the streets and businesses were transformed with themed decorations and horror costumes, while children and young people take part in activities such as “Charity please”.

However, the Clinic of the University of Navarra Remember that while fear can be an entertaining ingredient in Halloween, it psychological impact It’s more complex and can go beyond a simple night of fright.

He fear It is a universal emotion that responds to a protective function. This function alerts us to possible dangers and prepares us to react. According to the Clinic of the University of NavarraWhen fear becomes so intense that it affects daily life, it can become a phobia.

Phobias usually develop due to traumatic experiences in childhood or by imitating the fears of other loved ones, explains the clinic, and can trigger symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares and even avoidance behaviors.

These avoidance behaviors are common among people with phobias, as they seek to avoid the object or situation that causes intense fear. In this context, the Clinic of the University of Navarra emphasizes that these reactions, although irrational for those who observe them, are very real and scary for those who suffer from it. Symptoms can affect functioning in important areas of life, such as social relations, work and the family environment.

To resolve these issues, the clinic recommends exposure therapyan effective technique in the treatment of phobias. Thanks to this therapy, patients are gradually confronted the source of your fearfrom stimuli that generate less anxiety to those that generate more worry, allowing them to get used to and confront their phobia more normally in a controlled environment.

THE Dr Cristina Maestropsychologist at Clinic of the University of Navarraexplains that in consultation, a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations is established with the patient. This hierarchy goes from the lowest intensity to the highest, so that the patient face your fear step by stepmoving forward only when you can control the anxiety generated by each specific situation. So the patient gain confidence face situations that I previously avoided.

THE Clinic of the University of Navarra remember the importance of treating fear seriously. Halloween can be a fun holiday, but you should never force someone to face your fears, especially if you suffer from a phobia. The institution concludes that, with adequate support, It is possible to overcome irrational fears and regain the quality of life often affected by phobias.