Chicago doesn’t need more fear right now. With all of the immigration raids, the affordable housing crisis and economic instability, many residents are facing enough fear and uncertainty already. Given that, Halloween’s ghosts and monsters might seem out of place, but they are not. In this unsettling time, people are still looking to scary movies, haunted houses and costume parties to celebrate the spooky holiday.
October becomes less about horror and more a reminder that some fears can be fun and even chosen.
As children, many of us celebrated Halloween with candy and trick-or-treating with friends. Now as adults, each fall we treat ourselves to iced pumpkin lattes and celebrate sweater weather. The season provides a sense of familiarity and comfort. This nostalgia comes at a great time, when many college students are increasingly anxious. A recent report from the National College Health Assessment found that nearly 30% of students surveyed attributed anxiety to poor academic performance. That number is closer to 50% for trans or gender non-conforming students.
For people who live with daily anxiety, the season’s scares may bring an odd sense of comfort, a chance to face a fear you recognize, in the company of others. Experiencing a feeling you’re already used to but with friends by your side can lessen the feeling of being so alone. When fear is shared, things don’t feel so scary anymore.
We can watch movies with scary killers like Ghost Face and Freddy Krueger because we know they’re not real. Knowing that the villains end up defeated and everything works out for the main characters is reassuring; there’s no reason to be scared. We’re able to tell ourselves, “It’s just a movie,” and being able to say this gives us a sense of control. We know these are just characters and stories.
Though Halloween can’t erase the real anxieties surrounding us, it can certainly bring some much needed fun. It offers a chance to find comfort in fear, test our limits and remember that we’re still safe. This year, with the world feeling so uncertain, we can celebrate the fact that at least for one night we control the ending.
Copy edited by Brandon Anaya
