Written by Christina Maroone, PMHNP
Do you ever wish you could escape your everyday life, even just for a little while? Wonder what it would feel like to be somebody else entirely? Halloween gives us a rare opportunity to find out, if only for a few hours.
For one night, we have permission to be dramatic, mysterious, fearless, a little odd, or extravagant. We can walk into a room differently, start a conversation we might usually avoid, or let ourselves be seen in an unfamiliar way. A costume gives us an excuse. It’s Halloween, after all. It’s not that serious! And that can make experimenting feel a little less vulnerable.
In everyday life, we become accustomed to our particular ways of being. We’re the serious one, the quiet one, the agreeable one, or the person who always has everything under control. Anxiety, habit, and other people’s expectations can make these roles feel fixed, as though they’re permanent parts of our identity. Even when we’re curious about doing something differently, we might hesitate: But that’s not me! What would people think?
Halloween creates a temporary opening. We don’t have to decide who we’re going to be forever. We can simply try something new for an evening.
It’s interesting to notice which characters or personas appeal to us. Is it the confidence of someone who commands attention? The freedom of a character who doesn’t need everyone’s approval? The playfulness of something completely absurd? Maybe we’re drawn to something dark or unfamiliar simply because it feels so far removed from our everyday lives.
A costume doesn’t necessarily reveal a hidden truth or tell us who we secretly wish we were. We can enjoy trying on a persona without fully endorsing everything it represents. Still, the experience may invite curiosity: What feels freeing about this? What feels uncomfortable? Is there something I’m allowing myself to express that I usually hold back?
That same curiosity has a place in therapy. Therapy can give us room to explore familiar roles and experiment with new ways of being. We might practice expressing disagreement, asking for help, being more direct, or allowing ourselves to be playful, even if we feel a little embarrassed. We can notice what comes up when we step outside our usual patterns and decide what we want to carry forward.
The unfamiliar can feel awkward at first. Rather than treating that initial discomfort as a final answer, we can give ourselves time to explore whether something new might actually fit.
So this Halloween, along with choosing a costume, consider what you might enjoy giving yourself permission to try. There’s no need to turn the evening into a self-improvement project or an evening-long therapy session. But if something you try on surprises you, it might be worth staying curious after the costume comes off.