Halloween is a time of the year where everyone lets loose a little. It’s a season for adults to tap into their inner child and for a child … to be a child. Millions of people look forward to Halloween every year. However, there are also millions who wish they were just as excited as the others about this holiday.

For many, Halloween can bring forth an array of anxieties, from poisoned Trick or Treat candies and issues with allergies to letting children do their own thing. Halloween comes with its own bag of treats … and tricks. Well, luckily we have some tricks to turn your Halloween into a treat. Here are some of the most common Halloween anxieties and how to handle them.

Your Kid Wants an Expensive Costume

Americans spend $9 billion a year on Halloween. Remember the simpler times when every single superhero, Disney princess and obscure 80’s movie character didn’t have a costume? Back in the day, you threw on an apron, a red wig, and penciled in some freckles. Now you can buy a whole Raggedy Ann costume.

Truth is, times have changed … and they always will. Your child is going to want the latest movie star costume this year, but they most likely won’t wear it again. So, find a happy compromise.

Don’t break the bank on these costumes. However, you also need to realize that this is important to your child. Pictures on social media, Halloween parades at school, and parties with friends are all social events that impact your child’s life.

Set a limit on how much you can afford for the costume. If it exceeds, go to Plan B. Can you make the costume or part of the costume? Obviously, it’s not the same, but something is better than nothing.

If all else fails, take them to a place like Savers or Dollar General. Don’t go to the pop-up Halloween shops or big retail stores like Targets. You’ll find tons of last year’s popular items for cheap. Luckily, Hollywood keeps churning out sequels to everything they make. Therefore, these cheaper items may be better than a compromise!

What Time of Day to Go Trick-or-Treating?

To say Halloween throws off your daily routine is an understatement. You normally have dinner, showers, and bedtime all mapped out to a science. Anytime the schedule gets thrown off, it can throw you (and your kids) off their game. So, how do you cope? You make a plan.

First, decide what time is best to go trick-or-treating. Talk to other parents in the neighborhood to see what time they were thinking. Perhaps you can get together a group of kids and parents going out. This can make the monotony of following your child from door-to-door more fun with a companion to distract you from your anxious thoughts.

If it’s just you (and/or your spouse) with the kids, then Google search trick-or-treat times. Each county in every state has a different day and time when trick-or-treating officially begins and ends. Either way, the general rule of thumb is as soon as the sun starts to go down, it’s fair game! So, pick a time that best works for you to get your everyday things done and then head out into the neighborhood.

What to Do About Leaving Your Kids Home As You Attend a Party?

Nearly half of adults today don a costume and go to a Halloween party. So, what do you do about the kids if you want to partake in that adult fun? It depends on how old your kids are. For an evening event, your best bet is not to leave young ones at home by themselves. Of course, go for a sitter. This will ease your mind on all fronts.

However, if you have teenagers that are old enough to take care of themselves for a few hours, this may be a cause for concern. They’re going to push back for the independence. Any relationship should start off with trust, so sit down your teens and explain your intentions. Let them know you are trusting them not to do anything stupid while you’re out at a party.

Feel your children out. If you think they are up to something, encourage them to make plans. Contact a mutual friend and see if their kid wants to come over and watch movies. Surrounding your teens with other kids you trust will go a long way in easing your concerns.

Worries About Candy Poisoning and Allergies

Let’s cut to the chase with this one. Yes, candy poisoning has happened. However, it’s not as common an occurrence as you’d think. The fears of candy poisoning sprung up in the 1980s after Tylenol became tainted with cyanide. However, cases of candy poisoning are few and far between.

Once you get past that fear, you should still check your child’s candy stash. For safety’s sake, omit any candy with packaging that is partially unwrapped or ripped. You are aware of how many popular candies should look. If any of the exteriors look misshapen or discolored, don’t eat them.

In the case of tampering, don’t accept any baked goods unless you know the person handing them out. Anything that is expired or looks questionable, just toss out.

When it comes to Trick-or-Treating with a child with allergies, anxieties can be through the roof. Don’t worry. Your child can still take part in the festivities. Many households now hand out non-food treats at Halloween. It’s also best to sit your child down before heading out and explain what is OK to eat. If your child can’t have peanuts or chocolate, get them excited about taffy, gummies, and Smarties.

When to Let Kids Trick or Treat on Their Own

This anxiety is one of those touchy topics. You can’t tell a person how to parent. Case in point, a Today Show poll found that 2,000 parents think any age between 12 and 17 is too old to trick or treat. So, if 12 is too old to go trick-or-treating, is it too young to go out on your own?

The truth of the matter is the answer to this dilemma strictly lies on your own unique relationship with your children. Do you know the neighborhood they are going trick-or-treating? Are you familiar with the friends they are going with? What time will they be home?

At the end of the day, sending your kids off to do things you used to do together means they are carrying your family’s traditions out on their own. Trick-or-treating with their friends is the first of many acts of independence. In order to help cope with these anxieties, you can rely on your spouse or friends. Maybe even go out. Why not? Your kid is out of having fun and you should be, too!

As you learn to come to terms with these changes in your relationship, it may be best to try a supplement that will help naturally balance your hormones. Using a product like Tranquilene can alleviate some of those worries. Tranquilene contains amino acids such as L-Theanine and Tryptophan, which help create happy neurotransmitters (like serotonin) that naturally curb the stress hormone, cortisol. Taking a daily dosage can help balance out the emotions you’re feeling as your nest begins to empty.

Dealing with a Traumatic Experiences

Halloween is fun, but let’s face it, the holiday is notoriously glorified for its violence. From serial killers like Jason to night terrors like Freddy Kreuger to brothers-gone-crazy like Michael Myers, these situations may be too real for some. That’s why Halloween may be particularly scary for survivors of trauma.

Unfortunately, you can’t change the calendar. This holiday comes every year, just ask Jamie Lee Curtis. The best thing you can do is be aware of it. Reach out to your support group. Whether you’re in an AA, seeing a therapist, or just need your mom or other family support, lean on those who know your situation best.

Don’t go through anything alone. If need be, stay in during the nighttime. Invite friends and family over to keep you company. Do things that make you happy. In times of trauma, you should celebrate who you became on the other side of the struggle.

Beat the Halloween Spooks

While others celebrate Halloween, your anxieties don’t need to celebrate its victory over you. Planning ahead of time for this holiday is pivotal to defeating the case of the spooks it gives you. Figure out your budget, when to take the kids out, and how you plan on celebrating all before the holiday gets here. That way no surprises throw you off your track.

Using all-natural supplements such as Tranquilene can help ease the anxious transition from letting kids go trick-or-treating on their own to leaving them home by themselves as you go out. Whatever you do this holiday season, don’t let anxiety get the best of you. Let the best of you be the best of you.