7 differences between loving Halloween and being actually obsessed with it

It’s October 1st. For some people, that marks the beginning of the fall holiday season. For others, it’s time to (finally) get their cold weather wardrobe out of storage. But not you. Sure, you’re into all the other parts of fall to some extent, but for you, fall ultimately comes down to one very specific thing: Halloween. And while a lot of people are excited about the popular holiday, you sort of take it to the next level in a big way. Halloween isn’t just an event for you — it’s much, much more.

Fact: A healthy love of Halloween can quickly and unexpectedly turn into a full-blown obsession. Like, your friends and family are planning an intervention if you buy anymore decorations.

Is this you? Could be. Here we have the stages of finding out that you’re actually obsessed with Halloween.

It’s not really October to you.

Oh sure, you know it’s October. But that’s just what common people refer to it as. In reality, this is the month of Halloween. And as such, that’s how you refer to it: Halloween 1st, Halloween 2nd, etc. You don’t do this on professional paperwork, and you always assume a joking tone when you refer to the date with your friends — but deep down, you know you aren’t joking at all. October is about Halloween, and nothing will convince you otherwise.

2. You’ve had your costume planned for a while. A long while.

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Let’s just say that the day after Halloween 2016, you were plotting this year’s outfit. You’ve pulled out all the stops, and left nothing to chance. Every aspect of your Halloween costume has been exhaustively and meticulously dealt with. The only real problem with this? You need to constantly one-up yourself, which can be exhausting (not to mention expensive — we aren’t all blessed with Heidi Klum’s costume budget).

3. Your entire house looks like a Halloween store.

Look, if it was socially acceptable to do so, you’d cover your home with pumpkins, bats, and skeletons all year round. As it is, when Halloween season rolls around you go a bit crazy. If something is Halloween-themed, you need it. Whether it’s an assortment of cute mugs with bats or some delightfully ghoulish zombie gear, you’re adorning your home with it. After all, ’tis the season, right?

4. You get your pet in on the action.

Halloween: It’s not just for humans anymore. While a lot of people throw a costume on their beloved pet for the big day, you tend to take this a bit more seriously. Maybe you have multiple costume changes for your pet. Maybe you dress them up a few days before Halloween officially begins. Maybe your dog is in a costume right now. Hey, we’re not judging. Who doesn’t love a pet in a cute costume?

5. Your Halloween viewing list plays all month long.

You’ve got all the classics lined up and are ready for 31 days of scary movies to delight the senses. From the classic Halloweentown to a Friday the 13th marathon, you’ve got every genre covered. With so many great movies to choose from, why wait until the 31st to start watching? You’ve already enjoyed The Addams Family and are gearing up to see It again. Just don’t mention that blasphemous remake of Hocus Pocus; it’s the perfect way to ruin the holiday mood.

6. You’ve plotted ways to get back on the trick-or-treat circuit.

Why do kids get to have all the fun? You’re just trying to get in on this beloved tradition (and maybe score some free candy in the process). You’ve offered to chaperone kids (chaperones get treats too, right?), and tried to convince your friends that there’s no age limit to hitting the town for some wholesome trick or treat fun. Hey, even if everybody bails on your grand plans, you can always go to the store and buy your own bag of tasty treats. It’s one of the major perks of being a grown-up.

7. .Accepting that one month just isn’t long enough.

It may be 31 days long, but October seems almost criminally short. No matter how you try, you can’t cram in all the seasonal fun. Instead of worrying about this, make the most of it! Embrace your Halloween obsession, enjoy the costumes and creepy decorations, party hard and chow down on your favorite candies. And when this glorious month finally comes to a close, remember that now you can start planning for next year. Maybe in the end, we’re all a little obsessed with Halloween. And really, can you blame us?