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: Coping with the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death – Funeral Help Center
GRIEF
Coping with the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death
July 1, 2019
March 26, 2021
Chris Raymond
anniversary, grief, holiday
The anniversary date of a loved one’s death can trigger renewed feelings of grief
even years later. Photo © iStock.com/mactrunk
Regardless of how many years pass after the death of a loved one, the date on which he or she died usually remains significant in our hearts and minds. On the actual anniversary date, or before or after, it’s common to re-experience the pain of grief again even many years later, but the following suggestions can help you cope. What is an Anniversary Grief Response? An anniversary grief response occurs when an individual later re-experiences the effects of grief during the period leading up to, on, or even after the date on which a loved one died. 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.