How To Never Get Scared Again

         As the Halloween season rolls around, there’s bound to be a few pranksters readying their arsenal of jokes and tricks, biding their time to launch the perfect prank. Whether that be your neighbours, teachers, or even your own friends, there's destined to be at least one of them planning a spooky surprise for you. With so much mischief in the air, the last thing you want to do is to fall victim to one of these pranks, so here are 3 things you can do to keep your cool under pressure and never get scared again. 

1. Acknowledge Your Weaknesses 

Even though it may seem like a no-brainer to try and hide your physical reaction when scared, the mental battle is actually the key decider between your reaction being posted on the internet for views, or your to-be prankster looking like a buffoon. If you already know beforehand that you're getting yourself into a suspenseful situation, like a haunted house, mentally preparing yourself for what you might face is a must. This can be achieved by simply having a confident demeanour and some straightforward self-reflection. Take some time and think about what you're afraid of the most, whether that be, heights, jumpscares, or something in between, and acknowledge that fear. Maybe you have arachnophobia, and the best way for you to conquer that battle is to remind yourself that the small spider is probably more scared of the gigantic human standing before it. Every person has a unique fear, and once you mentally catalogue your weakness, you can take the necessary steps to better yourself, becoming a more confident person than ever before. 

2. Just Breathe

Although it seems like another simple step, we often forget the importance deep breathing holds when it comes to scary situations. When we encounter something frightful, our bodies naturally tend to use more oxygen due to hyperventilation, and just breathing can help circumvent bad decision making and overreactions. Techniques such as figure 8 breathing can be especially beneficial, as you're not only focusing on another action, but also getting some much-needed oxygen to your brain. Another incredibly easy thing to do is visualising a happy place or memory. Just focusing on something other than what is scary can help to create a sense of calm, and retreating inside your brain can be an excellent distraction. Maybe it’s a memory about your friends, or a field filled with flowers - anything that can keep your brain occupied will lead to better decision making during stressful times, and you’ll be able to keep your confidence even in a mortifying situation.  

3. They can’t harm you!

Lastly, the best way to avoid getting scared is just to remember, they can’t hurt you! All pranks are just meant to poke fun at you and fish for a reaction, and keeping that in mind is a sure fire way to keep cool under pressure. It’s not called the Halloween spirit for nothing, and reminding yourself that good pranks are just meant to be light-hearted tricks is always a good way to keep your confidence even in the scariest situations. Plus, if you ever do get harmed from a prank gone-wrong, lawsuits exist for a reason! 

So the next time you get forced into a scary situation or find something that absolutely terrifies you, just remind yourself of these simple steps and you’ll never get scared again. Keep yourself confident and remind yourself that you can conquer anything, and you’ll always land right back on your feet, even if you're metaphorically or physically knocked off them by a spooky-jumpscare or two!