Anniversaries and Memorial Dates: How to Get Through Them

Don't be alone

Spend the day with those who understand. Shared memory and support make hard dates more bearable.

Create a ritual

Light a candle, visit a place of remembrance, cook a favorite dish, reread the stories on a memory page; a ritual gives you something to lean on.

Allow yourself to feel

Sadness on an anniversary is normal. Don't demand that you "hold it together": let yourself remember and grieve as much as you need.

The waiting can be harder than the date

Often the days before an anniversary are harder than the day itself; anxiety builds up in advance. Knowing this, plan how and with whom you'll spend the date so it doesn't catch you off guard. A small plan takes off some of the strain.

• Don't be alone on this day.
• Create a supportive ritual.
• Allow yourself sadness.
• Plan the date in advance.