emotional support or other techniques as the experience is relived. Sometimes feelings and anxieties associated with traumatic death may lead to thoughts of suicide or death. If they do, it is time to ask for help immediately. Social Changes in Response to Traumatic Grief While the initial response to the death is defined by the term grief, mourning refers to the inter- nal processes associated with adapting to life without your loved one. Some have described mourning as a “misty fog on life.” You are not al- ways aware, yet you realize that life is not quite as bright as it was before. Your values may have changed, and you may be impatient with things you deem unimportant or trivial. Special Dates Anniversaries, holidays, and birthdays often trigger reminders of the death or absence of your loved one. Perhaps the most significant and most difficult anniversary is that of their
death. The annual date or even week or month may cause anticipatory anxiety and can contribute to renewed grief for victims and survivors. Special dates can be triggers that bring about painful
Special dates can be triggers that bring about painful memories or emotions.
thoughts and emotions.
The first anniversary will most likely be the most painful. Other annual celebrations, such as birth- days, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Mother’s/
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