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Emergency Contraception
(Morning After Pill or MAP)
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Understanding Abortion's Aftermath
By age 45, 1
out of every 2.5 women in the United States
has had at least one abortion!
Since 1973, there have been more than 36 million abortions in the
United States. While some women report relatively little trauma following
abortion, for many, the experience is devastating, causing severe and
long-lasting emotional, psychological and spiritual trauma.
Evidence of
post-abortion trauma is increasingly attested to by psychologists, counselors
and those involved in post-abortion ministry. We now know, for example, that
women hurt by abortion may have some or many of the following symptoms:
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Low self-esteem
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Grief (mild to
profound)
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Depression
(sometimes to the point of suicidal thoughts and attempts)
- A sense of alienation from family and friends
- A feeling of being 'numb,' not able to feel joy from
activities that used to be pleasurable
- Isolating self from others to avoid discussing the
abortion experience with them
- Guilt and shame
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anger toward self, or the child's father, or others
involved in the abortion decision
- Sleep disorders
- Abortion-related nightmares, flashbacks or even sounds of
a baby crying
- Alcohol and drug problems, to dull the sorrow
- Desire for a 'replacement' baby
- Anniversary reactions of grief or depression on the date
of the abortion or the baby's expected due date
- Problems bonding with her other children (being
over-protective but emotionally distant)
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Fear that God will
punish her, or is punishing her
Some experience symptoms soon after the abortion especially if pressured
into making this choice. But counselors tell us that it is more common for
the symptoms to occur over the course of five to twelve years after the
abortion.
For many individuals, their pain surfaces with an incredible need to talk
about their feelings and share their stories, hurts, and sorrows. It is at
this time many recognize they need help and seek out someone to confide
in...a trusted friend, counselor, or someone with a common experience.
Others suffer silently, afraid to confess their involvement with abortion to
anyone for fear of being judged, shunned, or rejected. Many women who have
walked a path of grief and hopelessness after abortion, usually alone,
eventually begin to understand that they have a deep spiritual wound. But
sadly, they also are likely to believe that they have committed 'the
unforgivable sin' and fear God's anger.
Click here
for a Self Assessment
To help the
post-abortion woman, the GCPC offers a free 10 week abortion recovery workshop.
It is for anyone who is suffering emotionally as a result of a prior elective
abortion. It uses a bible-based workbook called
"Forgiven and Set Free." Although it is a Christian program, women of
all faiths are welcome to participate and have been helped by the workshop.
Some
of the Program Goals
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Education about the nature of abortion.
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To recognize and verbalize feelings.
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To acknowledge the need and reality of grief in the abortion experience.
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To restore the broken relationships that resulted from the abortion,
including one's relationship to God.
- To learn what genuine repentance means to receive God's
forgiveness, and learn to forgive ourselves as well as others.
- To achieve a better self-image.
- To learn ways to relate better to children.
- This study journeys through stages of the grief cycle:
relief & denial, anger forgiveness, depression, letting go & acceptance.
Please call our center at (505) 722-7125 for more information, to schedule a
counseling appointment, or to inquire about the post-abortion workshops.
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