It’s a chilly October evening. You’re elbow-deep in dishwater with your favorite station playing through the house. Then the music cuts out and an ad takes over. You’re grabbing for a towel, trying to dry your hands fast enough to reach the skip button, shrilling screams and low chanting voices are already filling every room. When you reach the TV you see flashes of blood and satanic symbols. You’re the only one in the house. Your heart continues pounding. Your chest tightens. You’re not in your kitchen anymore. You’re somewhere you never wanted to go back to.
If this resonates with an experience you’ve had, we want you to know something first: your reaction makes sense and you are not alone.
Holding space first
This month, we’re holding space for those who have been hurt by people who used dark, occult, or satanic imagery to intimidate, control, or harm. For survivors, those symbols aren’t decoration. They can carry the weight of real memories, and October puts them everywhere: store windows, T-shirts, streaming thumbnails, the neighbor’s front yard.
Being triggered by an image you didn’t choose to see is not a weakness. It’s your nervous system doing its job, trying to protect you.
Everyone’s October is different
An ancient season of facing the dark.
Long before Halloween, the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “SOW-in”) began at sunset on October 31. It marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter, the darker half of the year. People believed the veil between the living and the dead grew thin, so they lit bonfires, honored their ancestors, and wore disguises for protection. Centuries later, those traditions became the Halloween we know today, and many still observe Samhain as a sacred time to remember loved ones.
For some, this season brings memories of chilly nights and pillowcases full of candy. For others, it brings dread. And for some, it brings nothing at all, because their family or faith never celebrated it. No two people experience faith, or this season, the same way.
Fear on Your Own Terms
Here’s something that may surprise you: for some people, especially those with anxiety, a scary movie can actually feel soothing. Researchers have found that horror can offer a safe way to practice feeling fear and then coming back down, a little like a rehearsal for the nervous system.
The key is choice. Curling up with a scary movie you picked, with the lights on and a friend beside you, is very different from an ad that blasts through your kitchen without warning. One is fear you control. The other can pull you right back into something you never chose
Coming Back to Your Body
When something catches you off guard, the goal isn’t to push the feeling away. It’s to gently return to the present. Try one of these:
- Feet on the floor. Press both feet down and notice the ground holding you.
- Observe what’s here. Look around and name five things you see, four you can touch, and three you can hear.
- Lengthen the exhale. Breathe in for 4 counts, inhale a short breath before exhaling out for 5 counts. A longer exhale tells your body it’s safe.
- Hand on heart. Place a hand on your chest and say quietly, “I’m here. I’m safe right now.”
Sitting with a Protective Presence
When the grounding tools have steadied you, you might go a little deeper. Find a quiet spot and close your eyes if that feels okay. Bring to mind someone or something that feels safe and protective: Jesus, Archangel Michael, an ancestor, a spirit guide, a beloved grandparent, or simply a warm light. Imagine them sitting beside you. Notice their presence. What does it feel like to not be alone?
Now cross your arms over your chest, hands resting on your shoulders, and slowly tap left, then right, like a gentle heartbeat. This is sometimes called the butterfly hug. Stay here as long as you need, letting that sense of protection settle into your body.
If anything feels like too much, open your eyes, press your feet into the floor, and come back to the room. You can always return another time, or explore this further with support with a mental health provider.
Protecting Your Peace
You’re allowed to limit what you’re exposed to. Most music and video platforms let you mark ads as not interested, mute or report them, and adjust content preferences. Over time, your feed learns. Unfollowing, blocking, and setting boundaries around horror movie nights are all acts of care, not avoidance.
You are Not Alone
So if you love this season, enjoy it. And if you’d rather sit this one out, that’s okay. Either way, you get to decide how close you want to come to the dark, and what, or who, you want beside you when you do.
If this season is hard for you, there’s no shame in that. Healing isn’t about never being triggered but it’s about knowing how to find your way back to yourself. If you’d like support, learn more about our pay if forward program and book a consultation below.
Disclaimer
This blog is not a replacement for therapy. If you’re interested in booking a session, please book a free virtual consultation call here.
