August Transitions: Mental Health, Back-to-School Stress, and How to Soften the Shift

Aug 7

This blog is adapted from one of our recent podcast episodes. You can take a listen at the button above.

August tends to get skipped over in the conversation around mental health. We’re still clinging to summer (with sunscreen in our hair and pool bags in the car), but we’re already eyeing fall. It's a weird middle space and one with serious emotional weight.

This month, more than most, is full of transitions. For many of us, August is the perfect time to pause and ask: How do I want to feel going into the next season? That includes your mental health, your parenting rhythm, and even how you process change.

August Is Prep Season for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

If you’ve ever felt like you “lose yourself” during the dark, cold months, especially between November and February, you’re not alone. This could be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), even if you haven’t been officially diagnosed.

Now is the time to prepare - not when you're already knee-deep in seasonal sadness. This proactive approach can make a major difference in how you experience the fall and winter months.

Here’s how to start prepping in August:

Book a mental health check-in with your therapist or psychiatrist
Pull out your light therapy box or order one
Revisit what didn’t work for your schedule last year and adjust
Find ways to sneak sunlight into your routine

These simple steps aren’t dramatic, they’re smart. You’re setting up your future self (aka Winter You) for success. Think of it as emotional wellness insurance.

Back-to-School Stress: It's Not Just About the Supplies

Parents, we need to talk about August’s other big trigger: back-to-school stress.

Even if your child isn’t in a traditional school, August still marks a huge shift. You might feel that internal click… the end of flexibility, the start of packed mornings, routines, lunch planning, orientation emails, and realizing that none of your kids’ shoes fit anymore.

But if you’re noticing an extra level of snappiness, irritability, or exhaustion, it might be more than just logistics.

Could This Back-to-School Season Be Triggering Old Childhood Memories?

One of the hidden causes of parental overwhelm during transitions is trauma from our own childhood experiences.

In EMDR intensives, this comes up often: You’re parenting your kid through third grade, but your nervous system remembers your third grade. Maybe you felt unseen. Maybe school was a survival zone. And now your brain is sounding the alarm, even though it’s 2025 and your child is not you.

This subconscious “echo” can turn ordinary stress into emotional overload. The trick? Noticing when this happens and giving yourself the chance to reflect.

Journal Prompt: What grade is your child entering, and what do you remember about that same grade in your own life?

You might be surprised by what comes up and it could explain some of the big emotions you’re feeling right now.

How to Tell if You’re Reacting to Your Child’s Stress or Your Own Old Wounds

If you're feeling unusually reactive, it’s worth asking:

Is this about them or is this about me?
Am I responding to their behavior or to memories being triggered in me?
What do I need right now to ground myself?

EMDR therapy helps uncover and process these kinds of emotional overlaps. But even if you're not in therapy, simply pausing to reflect can create space for healing.

The Case for Softening August (Instead of Powering Through It)

Let’s normalize a different approach to August: softening instead of sprinting.

We don’t have to go from pool float to perfect schedule overnight. What if we gave our families permission to ease into the school year?

Here’s what softening August could look like:

Lower expectations around meals (cereal-for-dinner nights are valid!)
Letting routines evolve slowly
Offering grace to yourself, your kids, and yes, even their teachers
Creating space for extra sleep, downtime, or silliness

You’re not behind if you haven’t color-coded anything. You’re human.

Quick Mental Health Check-In for August

To wrap this up, here are 3 essential questions to help you care for your mental and emotional wellness this month:

Do I need to book a mental health appointment now for fall?
(Spoiler: Probably yes. And do it before waitlists kick in.)
What parts of back-to-school season are stirring up old memories in me?
Awareness is power. Don’t ignore it.
Where can I soften my expectations - for myself, my family, and this season?
Less pressure. More peace.