Experiencing an abortion can cause a lot of conflicting emotions. Ending that pregnancy felt right at the time, but now the sadness won’t seem to go away. No matter what feelings you are experiencing, it is okay to feel what you’re feeling.
Whether you are considering an abortion or are looking for answers about why you are feeling the way you are after an abortion, we are here for you.
Is it common to have mental health effects after abortion?
Women who have an abortion are 81% more likely to experience mental health problems.
Any major life change, including having an abortion, can elevate stress levels and negatively impact mental health. This is especially true for women who have a history of adverse childhood trauma or mental health problems.
The reason a woman gets an abortion can also be a big factor of whether mental health problems arise.
For example, if a woman has an abortion in efforts to hide the pregnancy, she may develop anxiety and attempt to carry that secret with her for years. If a woman has an abortion because of pressure from her partner or family, anger and resentment might build up towards them. Fear and insecurity might creep in at the thought of people she loves leaving her if she doesn’t “make the right choice”. A woman who already has three children might feel relief thinking she is doing the right thing by sacrificing for the children she already has, but as time passes, maybe guilt begins to cloud her mind.
Relationship problems, religious beliefs, and social stigma can also make it harder to cope, especially if you feel like you have no one to talk to about what you’ve been through.
Common signs abortion might be affecting you
Every woman experiences and copes with abortion differently. Some feel relief, while others feel immense sadness. Sometimes this sadness and grief can begin to show up years down the road. It can even be hard to recognize these mental side effects and their association with abortion.
Common mental side effects include:
- Relationship problems
- Substance abuse
- Depression and anxiety
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Complicated grief
- PTSD symptoms
- Anger
- Shame and guilt
- Sleep problems and bad dreams
- Avoiding and distracting yourself
- Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
- Negative feelings about yourself and others
Mental health problems more than double for women who had an abortion a year ago or more.
If you identify with any of these side effects, help is available to you.
There is healing and support for you.
You are not alone in what you have been feeling, and you don’t have to be alone as you try to navigate recovery.
At Parkville Women’s Clinic we offer support after abortion. We are a safe, understanding, and confidential place for you to process and heal.
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