Questions After Your Abortion?

Are You Suffering From Post Abortion Stress Syndrome?

Do you find yourself struggling to turn off feelings connected to your abortion(s), perhaps telling yourself over and over again to forget about it?
Do you find yourself avoiding books, magazines and television programs that deal with the subject of abortion?
Are you affected by physical reminders of your abortion (babies, pregnant women, etc.)?
Are you uncomfortable around children?
Are there certain times of the year you find yourself depressed, sick or accident prone-especially around the anniversary date of the abortion or the due date of the aborted pregnancy?
Are you resentful and unforgiving towards anyone because of his or her involvement in your abortion(s)-parents, boyfriend, abortionist, friends, or husband?
Are you in a situation where you could find yourself faced with another unwanted pregnancy?
Do you have trouble with emotional intimacy since your abortion?
Have you experienced periods of prolonged depression since your abortion? Have you had any suicidal thoughts?
Have you experienced any peculiar occurrences relating to the abortion experience, such as nightmares about babies, flashbacks, or hallucinations (for example, hearing a baby cry)?
Are you able to talk about abortion? When choosing to share about your abortion(s), are you overcome with strong feelings?
If you have children now, do you smother them with your love or overprotect them? Are you unable to bond with the children you now have?
If you do not have children, do you fear that you will never be able to have them (either because of physical harm resulting from the abortion or because God won't allow you)?
Do you tend to look at your life in terms of "before" and "after" the abortion(s)? Has your self-concept changed?
Have you found yourself preoccupied with thoughts of your aborted child?
Did your relationship to or concept of God change after your abortion? How?

Suffering in Silence

If you have experienced an abortion and answered "yes" to any one of these questions, you may be experiencing Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS). PAS is a type of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which develops when a person is unable to work through their emotional responses resulting from the trauma of an abortion. The grief and loss they may feel after the abortion is seldom acknowledged but often repressed or denied. It may have been many years since you had your abortion. But the sense of loss and guilt still weighs heavy on your heart. You are not alone. Millions of men and women, like yourself unknowingly suffer from Post-abortion Syndrome. PAS may occur within a few months following an abortion, or it may surface many years later.

There is No Longer a Need For You to Suffer in Silence

Many men and women are afraid or embarrassed to discuss their experiences. It is a lonely, empty feeling. But you are not alone and healing is possible. It begins by overcoming denial when letting your feelings surface, and talking through your experience with others who understand your pain. Then you will be able to accept forgiveness, give forgiveness, overcome your pain and begin to heal.

We Want To Help You Experience Life in Its Fullest Joy

Contact A Woman's Concern about free and confidential counseling and support groups at 814-234-7341 or email help@awomansconcern.com.

If you have had an abortion and would like to talk to someone about your experience and/or your symptoms, contact Ann at A Woman's Concern about free and confidential counseling and support groups available to you, free of charge. Call 814-234-7340 or e-mail her at ann@awomansconcern.com.

Additional Resources

If you do not live in the Centre Region, but would like information on Post-abortion counseling and support in your area, consider visiting http://www.abortionfacts.com/PAS/PAS.asp.

Disclaimer: A Woman's Concern is not responsible for the content of external web sites and link placement here does not constitute an endorsement by A Woman's Concern.