The changing seasons have an impact on the emotions and attitudes of many people. As temperatures drop and we lose hours of sunlight, many Montanans start to feel a shift in their emotions.

While many refer to this feeling as “seasonal depression”, mental health professionals refer to it as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. It’s a common occurrence that makes its way to most during winter.

A local mental health therapist, Kelsey Kojetin, located in Great Falls says, “We usually see it here in Montana in the late fall and early winter.” Though many people experience it throughout the whole winter.

S.A.D is seasonal and often make people feel depressed, irritable, and less sociable. For some, it brings out existing mental health problems. It’s a slump that is easy to fall into without even realizing it.

Avoiding it can be hard to do; it’s hard to control how you feel, but staying engaged, being productive, and pushing yourself to stay out of that slump is crucial to making the best of your winter that you can.

For further information on the topic, you can check out https://mtpsychiatry.com/2024/09/24/montana-winters-how-to-beat-seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-in-billings-and-bozeman/  

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for individuals in crisis for those experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anyone concerned about someone else.

It’s important to note that these emotions are totally normal and okay to feel! Know that there is always someone who will listen.