Title: Coping with the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death – Funeral Help Center
Headings: Coping with the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death
Coping with the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death
What is an Anniversary Grief Response?
How to Cope with an Anniversary Grief Response
1. Accept the Power of Grief
2. Schedule “Memory Time”
If you’re worried or fear that you won’t be able to forget about your departed loved one on the anniversary of his or her death, then you should first understand that you can’t and shouldn’t even try. Instead of letting worry and the fear of remembering your loved one dictate your actions and feelings, empower yourself by proactively anticipating the anniversary and incorporating his or her memory into your plans.
3. Distract Yourself
4. Start a Tradition
5. Power in Numbers
6. Be Gentle with Yourself

Content: While quite common on the first anniversary of a death, you might experience an anniversary reaction many years later — long after coping with the grief you experienced in the immediate aftermath of losing your loved one and later feeling like things have returned to normal. Also known as an anniversary grief reaction, anniversary response, anniversary reaction, or reawakened grief, the effects of an anniversary grief response can include: elevated feelings of sadness, loss, depression, loneliness, anxiety, fatigue, irritability or anger, as well as physical symptoms, such as sleeplessness, lack of an appetite, difficulty concentrating or an increase in distressing memories, among other things. Moreover, an anniversary grief response can occur without warning due to an unconsciously perceived “trigger,” such as hearing a particular song, running across a forgotten photograph, smelling a perfume or cologne you associate with your loved one, attending a funeral or memorial service for someone else, a scene in a movie… or any of countless other ways. How to Cope with an Anniversary Grief Response
If you find yourself feeling anxious or worried that you won’t be able to forget about your departed loved one as the anniversary of his or her death approaches — or you are already experiencing some of the effects noted above — then the following suggestions might help you cope. 1. Accept the Power of Grief
Many people mistakenly think that grief is a single emotion, but normal grief is actually a powerful, multifaceted response to the death of a loved one that can affect us physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. As noted above, grief often persists and, regardless of how many years ago a death occurred, you might find yourself again experiencing its effects with their original rawness and power. Therefore, instead of trying to deny or avoid your anniversary grief response, you should accept mourning as a perfectly natural and normal reaction to the death of somebody you loved, regardless of how long ago it happened. Grief is neither an enemy to avoid at all costs, nor should you feel that you should “be over it by now.”