Is it normal to avoid people while grieving?

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4 years ago I lost triplets at 6 months pregnant, I developed PSTD from it as I lost them due to lots of hospital errors, think turning up to hospital and my waters instantly breaking and being told sorry one has died and now you have to wait for the other two to pass away and die before you go into Labour as there's nothing they can do due to errors on their part.
I nearly died myself.

I've gotten better at coping with the loss of my sons, however every year when it comes to their anniversary I go back into that very dark deep hole. I get nightmares leading up to the date and I just do not sleep which in turn makes me an absolute nightmare to be around as my moods can rapidly change.
I know this and so I avoid friends as I don't want to inflict this behaviour onto them while it's around their date as I don't want to upset them. Once the date has passed I feel better in myself and feel like I can "move on" for another year.
I haven't yet seeked therapy for it as I did once years ago and just cried my eyes out rather than talking and knew it was to raw to get any help.

The reason I'm
Asking this is because I have a friend who keeps asking to see me despite me explaining to them about the anniversary and struggling and saying I'll see them when I feel better in myself yet they keep on insisting to come and see me and I'm finding the pressure of having to constantly explain the same thing over and over distressing.
Is it normal to avoid people whilst grieving? Is there something wrong with me?

No its completely normal.
l lost my husband almost 9 years ago and l know that even if l lived somewhere completely remote for eg on the moon, without knowing what the calender dates were, l would still grieve him coming up to the anniversary.
It is innate and nobody will understand that until they have suffered a devastating loss themselves.
You need the sanctuary of your own little cocoon, to process things and just be allowed to be you.
l actually think this time is important and part and parcel of the grieving process, its ok to feel what you do, there is no shame or wrong doing in grieving what you have lost and the imprint it has left on you. Trying to ignore it or distract yourself from it can do more harm than good.
If you wanted to you could talk to a therapist but not because you feel you ought to, give yourself permission to feel whatever it is you feel, and kindness and self compassion is a must
I am so sorry for the loss of your triplets, it must be incredibly difficult for you and l send you my deepest kindest wishes.

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you know what you need during that time in order to grieve, and that you make that clear to your loved ones. It's not OK that your friend tries to push your boundaries on this, even if they mean it kindly. I think you would be justified in being firm to the point of rudeness to make this sink home.