Anniversary Disease

Abstract

It appears that in some people, falling ill has the function of commemorating, e.g. the death of a beloved person or their own wedding anniversary or that of one of their children. One of the main roots of Anniversary Disease is an unsolved emotional conflict situation in the aggressive sphere. One has to atone through the illness for the aggressive, mostly unconscious drives towards a key figure. The illness can relieve the conflict by pathocure, without awareness of existing feelings of grief and mourning, connected with separation and loss. Anniversary Disease is a non-specific reaction, which in the described material lasted no more than a week or ten days.

The Right of Falling Ill

“…In the mourning process physical symptoms can play an important role. In this connection it is of importance to point out the existence o f anniversary reactions (Musaph, 1973). Falling ill has the function of commemorating, for example, the death of a beloved person or their own wedding anniversary or that of one of their children.…”