There is a prevalent phenomenon across all ages and cultures and geographies … uneasy feelings when something “goes bump in the night.” Before acknowledging the “something” is an appliance cycling on or the floorboards creaking, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that there is danger lurking. Most usually this feeling is based on a haunted house full of thoughts, emotions, and overactive imaginations. Adults will usually check out the sound and go back to sleep. Sometimes, for children and teens, it isn’t so easy to do.

And that can be especially true if youth already suffer from haunted houses full of negative experiences and are not in a place where the feelings can be explained away or reasoned with. For youth, the world still feels unformed or incomplete with the line between imagination and reality being narrow. Spooky feelings aren’t always about ghosts or evil creatures creeping around. They can show up as a weird nervous flutter or a feeling that something bad is about to happen. Or feeling “watched” or just feeling worried about how to cope with life changes. The brain goes into negative overdrive and thinks, “this feels strange and maybe a little scary, but why?”

These feelings can be sneaky but awareness of some of these clues is helpful.

• Your thoughts keep jumping to the worst-case scenario
• You feel uneasy in your own room or space
• You feel tense or agitated
• You stress over what may happen instead of what actually is

There are ways to cope with the inner spook-o-meter that is screaming, “danger”. The goal is to calm the thoughts and feelings by accepting them without trying to fight them. This helps them to fade away more quickly, reducing overall distress.

• Name the feeling or fear either out loud or in writing
• Turn on the lights, either literally or in your mind by asking if there is proof something is wrong
• Taking three slow breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth, can be calming
• Concentrate on muscle relaxation by tensing and relaxing your legs or arms
• Try doing something entertaining like singing, dancing or anything that makes you laugh
• Talking to someone can alleviate a spooky feeling, just knowing you’re not alone and there’s someone to help

Louisiana Education & Addiction Network (LEAN) offers support for those dealing with the spooky thoughts can that trigger unhealthy outcomes. The counselors that work with the children and teens can promote the belief that worry and feelings that cause nervousness can be managed and improved with effort and practice. They will assist with identifying what causes the feelings and help youth prepare and respond better to situations like taking tests,
achieving healthy social interactions and recognizing personal image issues.
LEAN provides support and resources for a multitude of groups: schools, youth justice, follow-up care and crisis support for youth.