February is the month where Valentine’s Day takes place, and a time when many people witness the peak of what is called, “breakup season.” This rise in splits from December to March is a period heavily influenced by stress and lower energy.

This isn’t a made-up social media term or a type of trend – it’s close to the effects of seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder. While breakup season refers to a spike in ends to relationships, seasonal depression involves a spike in emotional struggles during this season.

Breakup season specifically can be triggered by loads of schoolwork, family holiday obligations and having to maintain that emotional input in a relationship. A person could be having other struggles emotionally that also impact their relationship.

Seasonal depression keys into breakup season by the equally heavy amount of stress, tiredness or sadness, and it’s that overwhelming stress causing couples to lose their connection or decide to part ways.

“Couples (break up) all the time during those months,” junior Zoey Vigeant says, “they say, ‘oh yeah, we broke up,’ and it’s always around breakup season.”

These emotions frequently bleed into relationships during this time, making it harder for couples to push through difficult patches.

Because of the mental stress throughout the season, some people might end up finding it harder to put that emotional input in a relationship, even when it may not be intentional.

“There is still an emotional commitment,” Vigeant says, “so it makes it harder for them to deal with their own struggles, which leads to fights or other issues.”

There are times when breakups happen solely because of the effects of breakup season.

That harsh lack of energy can ruin the ability to resolve minor conflicts, making breakups might feel like the only way to find relief for some people.

The return of longer days in late March often acts as a catalyst for individuals to prioritize their own growth and independence.

Ultimately, understanding this cycle helps students realize that their personal feelings are often affected by the environment around them.

Struggles come and go, and for some, it might be too hard to be in a relationship where they can’t provide the right amount of energy. While breakup season can feel like an inevitable storm, there are ways to handle it with your partner and figure out what’s best for couples during these months.

However, no matter what, always prioritize your mental health and make sure you are balancing a proper amount of things in your life.