Post-Abortion Healing
Months and years may go by without any remembrance of the abortion experience. Then, one day, you find yourself wondering what your life would have been like had your child lived.
Triggers like seeing children that are the same age your child might have been, or the anniversary date of the abortion/birth date of the child, may leave you feeling anxious, scared, and fearful.For most women, the abortion is a closely held secret. Rarely do we talk about this pain with family or friends. Many feel fearful that they will judge us if they know they made an abortion choice. There is good news - God can heal abortion pain and bring new joy to your heart.
The effects of abortion can be devastating. No other act of human behavior can so completely destroy (emotionally, physically and emotionally) the men and women involved.
ABORTION IS A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION
POST-ABORTION RECOVERY:
To help you reconcile a past abortion decision, we can refer you to a 12-week Bible study and support group. (Call Pregnancy Resource Center East for more information.)
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How do you know if you need Post-Abortive 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, 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:
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Do you feel reluctant to talk about the subject of abortion, or do you feel guilt, anger, or sorrow when discussing your own abortion?
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Do you tend to think of your life in terms of "before" and "after" the abortion?
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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?
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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?
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Have you begun or increased use of drugs or alcohol since the abortion, or do you have an eating disorder?
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Have you felt a vague sort of emptiness, a deep sense of loss, or had prolonged periods of depression?
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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." **
Most of this page is taken from www.postabortion.org