Compassion and Healing After an Abortion

"I was Pro-Choice until I made the wrong choice for myself." —Toni from Virginia

Chances are you, or someone you know, may be one of them. Many women who have had an abortion will say it didn’t make their problems disappear. For some, the pain is clear and immediate. For others it emerges over time.

No one prepares a woman who’s had an abortion for the conflicting feelings of relief and loss she will experience. It’s not uncommon for a woman to feel alone and suppress these feelings out of fear of sharing the experience with others. Abortion is a secret that women often keep from their spouses, children, and parents for fear of judgement. These women tend to seek relief from their grief or seek affirmation for their choice by advocating or celebrating abortion. If their secret isn’t addressed, it can manifest in harmful ways. Physical and psychological problems include, but aren’t limited to: increased depression, drug and alcohol abuse, increased risk of breast cancer, infertility, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, eating disorders, future premature births, PTSD, suicides, and even death. Numerous studies reveal the psychological harm from having an abortion is more damaging than carrying the baby to term.

“Abortion is fundamentally about [a] relationship, a relationship that is broken by the procedure—and one that desperately needs to be healed.”

...said Kevin Burke, co-founder of Rachel’s Vineyard, a post-abortive healing organization. Abortion also affects women and how they relate to their future children. Many have difficulty bonding with them or often become over-protective. Anniversaries of the abortion or the due date of the aborted child can become a painful trigger that never goes away.

Thousands of women regret their abortions and find a way to forgive themselves. Healing and forgiveness is available at various counseling events and retreats. Instead of feeling shamed and judged, they find themselves welcomed and loved.

Who to contact if you've had an abortion: 844-289-HOPE (4673) supportafterabortion.com

"I killed my baby when I was 19 years old. I can wrap that in terms that many in our society would deem acceptable, such as, 'It was my body, my choice,' or 'It was only a clump of cells'. But, when I walked out of that clinic that day so many years ago, I knew I had killed my baby and a part of myself died that day as well.” —Theresa from Florida