Many people assume loneliness only happens when someone has few friends or spends a lot of time alone. In reality, loneliness can occur even when we are surrounded by people. It’s less about the number of relationships we have and more about whether we feel seen, understood, and connected within them.

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many Minnesotans find their energy and mood dipping with the sun. While a little winter gloom is common, for some, these changes signal something deeper: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—a type of depression linked to seasonal changes, most often beginning in late fall and continuing through winter.