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Introducing ‘September Sadness,’ the Reason You Might Feel Off This Month

A therapist explains why shorter days, changing routines and the end of summer can trigger a temporary drop in mood.

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You’ve heard of summertime sadness, but what about September sadness? As summer draws to a close this month, many people feel anxious and bummed about returning to their routines or preparing for the shorter, colder days ahead. Here’s what you should know about September sadness—and how to navigate these seasonal shifts.

What Is September Sadness?

September sadness is exactly what it sounds like: sadness that occurs during September.

“September sadness is a seasonal shift in mood that happens as summer ends and fall starts,” says David Asch, LMFT, and Clinical Program Director at AMFM Healthcare. “For some people, it can manifest as feelings of melancholy or anxiety, low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or changes in sleep patterns, motivation, or concentration.”

While it’s normal to grieve the loss of summertime, September sadness shouldn’t linger for too long—or it might enter the........

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