After an abortion, many women experience an enormous sense of relief. For better or worse, at least the crisis is over. Over a period of time, however, the relief begins to wear off and it may be replaced with negative emotions. Women often experience a type of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder called "Post-Abortion Syndrome" (P.A.S.). At Birth Choice, we have women on staff who have experienced P.A.S. They would be happy to talk with you if you have any questions. Please contact the Birth Choice office nearest you.

How do you know you need post-abortion healing?

Perhaps you are thinking, "Okay, so I had an abortion. But that is in the past. Do I really need to be healed?" Some women seemingly never need to work through any kind of healing process. But for many of us, the memory of abortion lies like a hidden infection within, weakening and impairing us in ways we may have never realized were related. Is that true for you? See if you recognize yourself in some of the following questions:

• Do you feel reluctant to talk about the subject of abortion, or do you feel guilt, anger, or sorrow when discussing your own abortion?
• Do you tend to think of your life in terms of "before" and "after" the abortion?
• Do you have lingering feelings of resentment or anger toward people involved in your abortion, such as the baby's father, friends, or your parents?
• Have you found yourself either avoiding relationships or becoming overly dependent in them since the abortion? Are you overly protective of any children you have now?
• Have you begun or increased use of drugs or alcohol since the abortion, or do you have an eating disorder?
• Have you felt a vague sort of emptiness, a deep sense of loss, or had prolonged periods of depression?
• Do you sometimes have nightmares, flashbacks, or hallucinations relating to the abortion?

If so, it is likely you are experiencing pain related to your abortion, many times referred to as "post-abortion trauma."

Below are common symptoms of Post Abortion Trauma:

Symptoms Include but are not limited to

• Guilt (results from violating one's own sense of right and wrong)
• Anxiety (headaches, dizziness, pounding heart, abdominal cramps, muscle tightness, difficulty sleeping, etc.)
• Avoidance behaviors (of anything remindful of pregnancy and children)
• Psychological "numbing" (the unconscious vow to never let anything hurt this badly again can hamper the ability to enter fully into an emotional, intimate relationship)
• Depression (sad mood, sudden and uncontrollable crying episodes, deterioration of self-concept, sleep and appetite disturbances, reduced motivation, loss of normal sources of pleasure, thoughts of suicide)
• Re-experiencing events related to the abortion (persistent thoughts and flashback memories or nightmares involving themes of lost or dismembered babies)
• Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again (representing an unconscious hope that a new pregnancy will replace the baby that was aborted)
• Anxiety over fertility and childbearing issues (being convinced that God will punish by withholding future pregnancies)
• Interruption or disruption of the bonding with present and/or future children (underbonding or overbonding with other children, whether born before or after a woman has an abortion)
• Self-abuse/self-destructive behaviors (eating disorders, alcohol and/or substance abuse, cigarette smoking, abusive relationships, promiscuity, failure to take care of one's self medically)
• Anniversary reactions (an increase in symptoms around the time of hte anniversary of the abortion, the due date of the aborted child or both)
• Brief psychotic disorder (a psychotic break with reality lasting for a short period of time within two weeks of the abortion)