Certain dates can reopen wounds. How do you prepare for anniversaries of loss, and what helps you get through them?

I take the time to remember them even cry for them but always feel gratitude for them .

On 6/24/2025 at 11:43 PM, Enigma said:

I take the time to remember them even cry for them but always feel gratitude for them .

This is really important.

I also try to have a loose plan and routine for that day. I also communicate with the people around me.

Not so much dates with me..certain songs…I cant listen to certain songs without them reminding me of someone or something…

I know it's almost 6 months away but I think Christmas will be hard this year. my MIL passed away in January and this will be our first Christmas without her. she had stayed over Christmas for years.

On 6/27/2025 at 8:05 PM, Lavender said:

I know it's almost 6 months away but I think Christmas will be hard this year. my MIL passed away in January and this will be our first Christmas without her. she had stayed over Christmas for years.

Anniversaries and holidays will approach and sting but it does help to have people around you. My mum passed away Christmas Day 2022 - I was only 23 (about to be 24). Her passing itself was very hard but there was a build up to it - anticipatory grief is heavy.

I have felt weird on every Christmas ever since. It’s like the universe is testing me! But I think Christmas time is the main time of the year where people aren’t expected to work and come together anyways for family and in a weird way, that’s comforting and forces me to be around people. I wanted to give up on it and not celebrate but it’s pretty much impossible not to and to try do something like that would actually be me purposefully trying to emotionally hurt myself. It’s unavoidable but each year I feel myself getting into some Christmas spirit a bit more. Her birthday, however, sinking feeling. In fact it’s on Thursday this week and I have felt the grief depression come back. But hey, this is the price you pay for love.

On 7/7/2025 at 11:41 PM, sabrina said:

Anniversaries and holidays will approach and sting but it does help to have people around you. My mum passed away Christmas Day 2022 - I was only 23 (about to be 24). Her passing itself was very hard but there was a build up to it - anticipatory grief is heavy.

I have felt weird on every Christmas ever since. It’s like the universe is testing me! But I think Christmas time is the main time of the year where people aren’t expected to work and come together anyways for family and in a weird way, that’s comforting and forces me to be around people. I wanted to give up on it and not celebrate but it’s pretty much impossible not to and to try do something like that would actually be me purposefully trying to emotionally hurt myself. It’s unavoidable but each year I feel myself getting into some Christmas spirit a bit more. Her birthday, however, sinking feeling. In fact it’s on Thursday this week and I have felt the grief depression come back. But hey, this is the price you pay for love.

Sorry that you have lost your mum, especially Christmas day.