The Anniversary Effect
I read an interesting article on this subject today and thought I would make it the subject of today’s thought. I know I have experienced this and I have many friends and clients that have done as well. This is a “time specific psychological response arising on an anniversary of a psychologically significant experience which the individual attempts to master through reliving rather than through remembering”
This is an obvious example of association rather than dissociative memory. I know that we have all experienced events which have left their marks on us. Interestingly as the years go by and time fades, we often forget the specific date in which these events occurred, but rather we experience a potent negative emotional response to when the anniversary occurs.
It is important to note that this may well follow a person throughout their entire life, however, it does not have to be something to fear. Indeed, as with most cases of anxiety, knowing what the cause of it is, can often be a liberating experience. Whilst it does not make the situation go away, this knowledge can lead to the experience to be far more manageable. So for those of you who are feeling a bit anxious today with no obvious reason, perhaps you are suffering with the anniversary effect.
