Post Abortion Stress
Post Abortion Stress
Some women feel relief after an abortion, while other women experience strong negative disturbances. These reactions may be immediate or they occur many years after the abortion. Experiencing post abortion grief can be related to a woman’s age, length of pregnancy, previous mental health, religious or cultural beliefs, or whether she was pressured into an abortion.
Post Abortion Stress is described as the inability to:
- Process the painful thoughts and emotions about a crisis pregnancy and subsequent abortion – guilt, anger and sorrow.
- Identify the loss that has been incurred.
- Come to peace with self and others.
Post Abortion Stress may include:
- Sadness
- Feeling compelled to conceal an abortion
- Experiencing prolonged depression
- Psychological “numbing”
- Experiencing disturbing thoughts about babies and abortion
- Having lingering guilt and shame
- Believing you are unworthy
- Avoiding relationships or struggling with intimacy
- Reacting physically and emotionally when abortion is mentioned
- Anxiety over fertility or childbearing issues
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Engaging in self-destructive behaviour
- Having thoughts of suicide
Women come to the centre hoping to resolve feelings of guilt, anxiety and depression. Women also inform us of secondary symptoms such as flashbacks of the abortion procedure, addictions, eating disorders, self harm, anniversary syndrome, unable to feel forgiven by God, preoccupation with becoming pregnant again, and interruption of bonding with future children.
By processing the grief, many of the symptoms related to the stress after an abortion can be reduced. Take your next steps toward healing.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing Post Abortion Stress, contact us at 604-525-0999 or info@pacscanada.org.
Individual peer counselling, support groups, and abortion recovery weekend retreats are available. Peer counselling services are free and confidential.
Men and Abortion
Men do suffer after abortion. Available studies indicate that the emotional impact of abortion on men may include depression, guilt, shame and aggressive behaviour. Some men also demonstrate self-
destructive behaviour such as abusing alcohol, drugs and sex. A large percentage of unmarried relationships dissolve following an abortion.
Men (as well as women) can experience Post Abortion Stress regardless of the level of involvement in the abortion decision. The role he played could be any of the following:
- He insisted or forced his wife or girlfriend to have an abortion.
- He didn’t want the abortion to take place and tried to actively stop it.
- He found out about the abortion after it was completed and had no voice in the decision.
- He intentionally left the decision whether to abort with his wife or girlfriend. “I will support you no
matter what decision you make.” - He played a role in the abortion decision making process concerning a woman not his partner (sister, friend, daughter).
- He abandoned the relationship with his partner on finding out she was pregnant, leaving her
completely unsupported.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with a past abortion decision, please contact us at 604.525.0999 or info@pacscanada.org. Individual peer counselling, support groups, and abortion recovery retreats are available.
Peer counselling services are free and confidential.
Men do suffer after abortion. If you are struggling with a past abortion decision, help is available.
Please contact us today.