Today on mental Wellness Wednesday, Dr. Tracy Alloway shares why some brains “enjoy fear” and how to navigate Halloween with your kiddos!
When can Halloween be too much?
Researchers have identified dopamine is released, and for some people their brain requires more dopamine than others. However, sometimes Halloween can be too much for kids. When an event is associated with a strong emotion, positive or negative, we create a flashbulb memory, where it is a very strong and persistent reminder. Children may associate the scary parts of Halloween negatively Because your brain is still learning to assess real threat from perceived threat.
When can Halloween be therapeutic?
The scary parts of Halloween allows for sublimation- a defense mechanism where we turn a harmful response to a helpful response. If we know the environment is ultimately safe, and maybe even fun, this could be an opportunity to play out underlying fears.
To learn more, visit https://www.tracyalloway.com/