MayoClinic.com Offers Advice for Coping with Reminders of Tragic Events

Wednesday, September 11, 2002

ROCHESTER, Minn. — For those who have experienced a tragic event in their lives, the anniversary of that event may trigger pain, anger and sadness all over again. MayoClinic.com (http://www.mayoclinic.com/) offers advice on how to tell the difference between an anniversary reaction and depression. It also explains who is most susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder and what to do about it.

"People may find themselves very emotional and frequently quite tearful," says Lawrence Martin, M.D., a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "In general, that's perfectly normal."

Just knowing that you're likely to experience anniversary reactions can help you understand them and even turn them into opportunities. MayoClinic.com offers these suggestions and more on ways you can cope with reminders of loss and tragedy:

* Plan a distraction such as a weekend away or a visit with friends or relatives.

* Limit your exposure to news reports about tragic events.

* Allow yourself to feel sadness and a sense of loss.

* Create a new tradition in honor of your loved one's memory.

Knowing that you're likely to experience anniversary reactions can help you understand them and even turn them into opportunities. Some people create new holiday traditions or ways of honoring loved ones who have died.

This is true, too, of public memorials and ceremonies that mark the anniversary of tragedies, disasters and other events that cause significant loss of life. "There are reasons for a memorial," Dr. Martin says. "It acknowledges that this affects us all and still affects us all. One of the hardest things about tragedies is that they can make us feel all alone, or that we're the only ones feeling this way. But memorial observances help make us feel we're all in this together, and we're actually much closer and less self-absorbed."

However, if you feel extremely sad, lonely or anxious and are unable to cope or need some help getting your life back under control, see your doctor or a mental health professional. Treatment strategies such as counseling or medication may help.

Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email:newsbureau@mayo.edu

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