12/16/2025
The seasons change and so does your energy, your mood, and sometimes your relationship.
Late fall hits. Winter settles in.
Less sunlight. Colder days. Slower mornings.
And suddenly you’re loving your partner and needing space at the same time.
Less talking.
Less affection.
Less patience.
Not necessarily because the love is gone but because something deeper might be happening.
This is where Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) shows up for a lot of people.
It’s real, it’s common, and it’s louder in the fall and winter when sunlight drops and our bodies feel it.
From a relationship lens, let’s name some truths:
• Depression can look like distance
• Silence can be exhaustion, not indifference
• Pulling back doesn’t always mean pulling away
How to protect the relationship during this season:
– Say what season you’re in mentally and emotionally
– Don’t assume, ask with care
– Create low-effort connection (walks, check-ins, quiet time together)
– Lead with grace, not pressure
– Normalize support, individually or together
This doesn’t mean your relationship is failing.
Sometimes it just needs more softness, more honesty, and more understanding.
December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month; let’s name it and support each other through it.
