Being afraid during the Halloween season is actually good for you.

I’m a scaredy-cat. I always have been. So I never embraced Halloween, being afraid, and the creepy things the holiday celebrates. But now that I know about the good for you fear connection, I’m going to fill you in on the 4 ways fear is good for you on Halloween. Not only does it prepare you for challenges, but it can also help you feel happier and more fulfilled.

I for one, live a pretty chill life. I don’t hunt for my food, and I don’t worry about getting attacked by wild animals. Plus, my logic tells me no evil spirits are lurking in the corner of my office ready to suck out my soul.

However, there’s a mood change around late October that unites most of us in thinking that something has shifted in the world. And maybe – just maybe – there’s more going on than the eye can see.

That unknowable something makes us feel uncomfortable. Consequently, we dress up our discomfort in a costume. Or, we avoid it completely – like I used to.

I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to be scared.

And remember that embracing your fear can lead to happiness and peace. Don’t believe me? Just read on for the 4 ways fear is actually good for you:

1. Good-for-you Fear Brings Out Our “Brave“

Strangely and maybe even amazingly, feeling fear helps us get in touch with our emotional brain. Because fear is uncomfortable, we avoid situations where we feel it. These include running for class president, asking for a raise, starting a new business, or trying out for a team. These situations mean we need to put ourselves “out there” for the world to see. We all know that can be downright, well – scary.

However, when we expose ourselves to “safe” scary situations, we practice feeling scared. As a result, getting used to feeling fear also helps us get used to the discomfort around the fear. Once we can handle the discomfort, then it’s easier to enjoy the thrill it brings.

Practicing fear prepares us for when we face a scary situation in our lives. Since we already practiced, our brains can deal with it and face the fear head-on. Feeling fear on Halloween is great practice for handling scary situations in real life.

2. Halloween Fear Builds Our Social Side

Who knew that getting scared would also help us make friends? Granted, it doesn’t work if you’re in the woods at night by yourself. But, when we feel terror the hormone oxytocin makes us want to connect and find comfort from the people around us.

This can manifest as wanting to do scary activities with friends. Think about how we grab a friend’s hand or reach out for a hug when something scares us.

That’s why we like to gather with friends on Halloween night to celebrate, trick or treat, or watch a scary movie. We need our friends around to give us courage. That need for social connection helps build those social bonds in our brain and strengthens those super-important social skills.

3. Halloween Reduces Fear of Change

The fear we feel when we face something terrifying or unimaginable also helps our brain deal better with unexpected changes. Most people are afraid of change. When we process that feeling of fear in safe settings we build those important neural connections that help us process that fear better. It’s like weight lifting for your brain. Considering we currently live in a world where unexpected change seems to be the norm, this is a good thing.

Getting used to the feeling of fear gives us the emotional “brain muscle” to face change with greater resilience. Then we can focus on finding solutions to deal with our ever-changing world, and we feel more calm and happy as a result.

4. Halloween Brain Feeds Our Fun

I’m sure we’re all happy to learn that having fun is good for the brain – and the heart. But, how does getting scared fit in with having fun?

Put simply, the scary thrill we get with scary movies or haunted houses is the result of adrenaline coursing through our bodies. That adrenaline rush feeds our brain. That adrenaline “rush” intensifies our feelings, boosts our mood, and quite literally helps us feel good. Additionally, these scary experiences give us a helping hand at get rid of bad feelings we’ve been carrying around – like a “negative emotion” cleansing.

This emotional cleansing lets us think more clearly and we feel generally renewed.

So, now that it’s clear that this time of year is much, much more than just about getting the heebie-jeebies, go forth and enjoy Halloween – and confidently knowing the 4 ways fear on Halloween is good for you.

If you want to find other ways to grow your brain check out this link!