Autism and Halloween

You would think that Halloween is a rough time of year for someone who is on the autism spectrum, but depending on the person, Halloween can be the person’s favorite holiday.

Halloween is always been my favorite holiday, even if I don’t do anything to celebrate it. I don’t do much in the month of October. I would love to be able to do all things Halloween, but there’s nothing much you can do when you spend a lot of time by yourself. I’ve been going trick or treating just to be able to get out of the house and do something for Halloween.

I’m always looking forward to Spirit Halloween every year and always treat myself to something new. It’s my Halloween tradition. I live at Spirit Halloween, usually going there multiple times over the three months they are open.

I can understand with the loud sounds like music and fireworks, the bright lights and just everyone running around wearing costumes can be challenging for someone with Autism. A lot of the time, parents have a hard time trying to comfort their kids when there’s a lot of unfamiliar noises and decorations and with people always trying to scare each other, it makes someone on the spectrum nervous because they don’t know what’s going to happen and they have no control.

When I was a kid, my mom would go all out and turn our house into a haunted house. I was scared of the music she played so she would wait until I left and was at a safe distance away from the house before she turned on the scary sound effects and the music, but I didn’t mind the noise when I got home.

Over the years, I’ve gotten used to the loud noises. I still don’t like loud noises, I tolerate them. Even at Spirit when the animatronics are going all at once and there’s a lot of people, the noise gets too much and overwhelming that I have to leave the store.

Loud sounds and Autism have never gotten along. For years, I was scared of fireworks. I’m still scared of thunder and lightning. The unexpected noise, not knowing it’s going to happen scares me.

Halloween is loud and chaotic and with Autism, those noises are amplified, making it very overwhelming and stressful. We’re sensitive to everything and when we’re in a situation where we can’t control the volume, it becomes too much and we want to end the night early and go home to where we’re comfortable, a place where we feel safe.

Since we take everything literally, the no talking to strangers rule is something we take to heart. Going up to someone’s house and saying “trick or treat” is something some people with Autism are confused about since we’re told never to talk to strangers, but on Halloween, it’s okay.

Halloween may not be for everyone, but for some, it’s a day where it’s good to have at least once good scare. You just have to find what works for you. Hang out at home. Catch up on some reading or do some backing. If you work, volunteer to work that day and get away from the noise. You know what you can handle and what you can’t. Don’t be afraid to say no to plans with friends if you know it’s going to be too overwhelming or if you do what to do something, do a corn maze or crave pumpkins, something low key.

Enjoy your night. Create a night that fits you. You don’t have to do something you don’t want to.