The Scary Season, Reprise

The ghosts have gone back to their graveyards. The witches have flown off on their broomsticks. At this time a year ago, the presidential election was almost upon us. This year I have friends living in fear even after the ghosts and witches have left.

Why do some scares delight us, while others keep us awake at night? The same state of arousal that prepares our bodies for fight or flight—rapid heartbeat, heightened blood pressure—can also feel like excitement, depending on context. For those who like risky adventure challenges, fear and thrill go hand in hand.

My circle of young moms long ago discussed when preschoolers are old enough to enjoy Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Three-and-a-half? Five? I don’t recall. The point was that younger tots found Sendak’s wild things too scary, no matter how cheerfully we read to them. Adult brains, too, find some fears too intense to enjoy. I read murder mysteries, spiced by an element of suspense, but horror films I’ll leave to others.

Nature, nurture, and post-traumatic stress disorder leave some of us more fearful than others. Beyond that, some of us are in genuinely more vulnerable situations. To those living in fear right now, I can’t say you’re wrong—whether you choose to fight, flee, or enjoy the excitement.

Image: Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash.