This time of year is fun, but can also be very stressful. As someone who has recently put on weight for a multitude of reasons, I get upset thinking about Halloween costumes. I am not the most confident, which is something I am working on, and Halloween costumes can be a kick in the confidence.

Between ill-fitting materials and the pressure as a woman to be "sexy anything" during Halloween, I just don't even want to dress up.

It shouldn't be expensive or time-consuming to find a fun, revealing (or not) Halloween costume that I want to wear. I have resorted to wearing costumes that are normal clothing items with cool makeup because Halloween seems to not be self-conscious friendly.

I am not saying there aren't amazing options out there and that you should love the body you have and rock it the way you want to. You absolutely should. I am coming from a point of view with those of us who struggle. This year, I am taking it back.

If I want to be happy, I need to get over the mental block a few extra pounds has given me. If I want to be the most risqué student from Hogwarts this year, I will. If I want to be Beetlejuice in a man's suit, I will. I want to have fun and I want you to have fun, too. You deserve this day as much as anyone else but only you can do that for yourself. If you have an idea of what you want to be, I encourage you to go out, find pieces you like, make sure you feel like the best you, and do your thing.

It's Halloween, everyone is dressing up and no one is going to judge you, and if they do, that's their problem. It takes one night of courage to work towards self-confidence again, and for me, Halloween is the best place to start. Dressing up as something you love, feeling good and having fun? What better way to start feeling better again?