Trauma is an event that deeply affects life and leaves psychological scars. Events such as an accident, natural disaster, loss, attack or war can cause serious mental and physical scars. However, what is interesting is that these traumatic events can be felt again on anniversaries and create certain reactions in the person. So, is the concept of ‘trauma anniversary’ real? If so, how can we explain it from a scientific point of view?

What is a trauma anniversary?

Trauma anniversary refers to the revival of the emotional and physical symptoms that an individual experiences when the date of a traumatic event is approaching. This reawakening can trigger memories of the traumatic event, emotional pain, anxiety or even physical symptoms (e.g. heart palpitations, nausea). The trauma anniversary is a phenomenon that shows that the traces left by the event in the individual are not completely erased over time and are stored in the subconscious.

There are various scientific theories and researches that support the existence of trauma anniversary. Research on how trauma affects some parts of the brain explains why this phenomenon occurs.

1. Amygdala and Traumatic Memories

The amygdala plays a key role in the storage of traumatic memories. The amygdala is particularly active in the processing and storage of emotional memories. Traumatic events are strongly stored by the amygdala because they are often accompanied by intense emotional stress. On the anniversary of this event, environmental cues (e.g. season, weather, odour) can be triggering and cause the brain to replay the memory. When the anniversary of the event approaches, the brain thinks that the trauma has not been processed and resolved, creating a state of alarm as if the event is happening again.

2. Hippocampus and Time Perception

Research on how traumatic events are stored in our memory shows that the hippocampus region of the brain plays a key role in time perception. The hippocampus is responsible for putting events in chronological order and making connections with time. At the time of trauma, the hippocampus may not function properly, causing the event to be stored ‘out of time’. Therefore, when the anniversary of a traumatic event approaches, the event may resurface as if time had stopped.

3. Cortisol and Stress Response

During trauma, the body often overproduces the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol puts the individual in ‘fight or flight’ mode and ensures human survival. On trauma anniversaries, when the brain recognises clues to the event, the body can increase the release of cortisol again. This causes the individual to enter a stressful and anxious state again. Trauma anniversaries therefore cause not only psychological but also physiological reactions.

Why do traumas sometimes reappear on anniversaries?

This state of revitalisation on the anniversary of the trauma can be quite exhausting for the individual. To understand why, we need to look at how traumatic events are processed and stored in our brains.

Mental Connections: Making a connection between the trauma experienced by the individual and the anniversary of that event can cause the symptoms of that event to reappear in the subconscious mind. For example, an individual who has been in a car accident may remember the accident and experience similar fears when travelling on the same road on the anniversary of the accident.

Environmental Triggers: Weather, season, odours or sights related to the period of the trauma may cause the trauma to be remembered again. This may cause the trauma to be revived without the individual being aware of it.

Unresolved Emotions: The individual may not have fully processed or confronted the trauma. In this case, the anniversary of the trauma may cause the unprocessed emotions of the individual to surface. Psychologically unprocessed or suppressed emotions may be triggered in certain periods and may force the person.

Methods of Coping with Trauma Anniversary

Some strategies can be applied to cope with the trauma anniversary. Individuals should pay more attention to themselves and engage in emotionally supportive activities during the period when traumatic memories may be triggered. Here are some methods:

Awareness and Preparation: It is important to recognise when the anniversary of the trauma is approaching and not to force yourself in this process. Mental and emotional preparation can help the individual to overcome this process more easily.

Social Support: Sharing feelings with family, friends or a therapist can alleviate the impact of trauma. Avoiding being alone and seeking support can be useful in this period.

Trauma Focused Therapy: Trauma-focused therapies (e.g. EMDR or cognitive behavioural therapy) can be useful to reduce trauma anniversary symptoms. These therapies can help the individual to cope in a healthier way by reprocessing traumatic memories.