Table of Contents
- 1. Afraid of the dark?
- 2. Got ghosts?
- 3. Give yourself a treat.
- 4. Living a zombie life?
- 5. Be playful.
Do you think the scariest thing about Halloween is all the candy? I remember how I used to buy all the candy I didn't like (hello, candy corn) just so I wouldn't be tempted. I wanted to give you a Halloween treat that is 100 percent guilt-free and calorie-free, too. Here are my tips for how to get through Halloween:
1. Afraid of the dark?
The scariest thoughts are the dark ideas you have about yourself. Keep out thoughts like, “I suck” or “I'm too fat/stupid/ugly” or “Who would love me?” Those thoughts just make you feel terrible about yourself. And that's truly frightening.
2. Got ghosts?
If the ghosts of the past are haunting you, it's time to deal with them. If you had a critical parent, teacher or sibling, and you find yourself being equally critical to yourself, that critical voice belongs to others, not to you. Find your authentic voice, and view yourself as you are, not as others treated you.
3. Give yourself a treat.
If you find yourself saying, “I'm going to be good this Halloween and not eat a single piece of candy,” or “I was so bad because I ate that pumpkin cheesecake,” then you're connecting your character to what you eat. Allow yourself to eat candy on Halloween without feeling guilty. Deprivation or anticipation of deprivation leads to overeating. If you give yourself permission to have candy you may actually eat less!
4. Living a zombie life?
Do you feel as if you're the walking dead, doing the same thing day after day, not truly enjoying your life to the fullest? If so, bring yourself back to life. Think about one thing that you've been waiting to do “one day” and make today the day you start working towards doing that thing. If you want to run a marathon, go for a walk or a short run. If you want to start dating, go online and check out some dating sites.
5. Be playful.
Remember the fun of going out with your friends on Halloween? This occasion is about being with other people, dressing up, and having fun. So, have a great time!!
So there you have it, some calorie-free “food for thought” to help you have the best day possible. And here's a thought: keep treating yourself this way every day.
Have A Happy Halloween!
The Author
Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin is a psychoanalyst, author and radio host specializing in binge eating disorder. She is the author of The Binge Cure: 7 Steps to Outsmart Emotional Eating and Food for Thought: Perspectives on Eating Disorders, and co-editor of Beyond the Primal Addiction. She hosts The Dr. Nina Show radio program on LA Talk Radio.
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