Dealing with abortion guilt can be emotionally and physically draining. Whether you recently had an abortion, or it has been years since it happened, you might be struggling with your decision. Feeling regret or even sadness after an abortion isn’t unusual. Even if you know it was the right choice for your individual circumstances, it doesn’t make living with it any easier.
If dealing with abortion guilt has become a struggle for you, there are resources to help you cope. Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque can help you sort through your emotions and refer you to after-abortion care programs designed to help you heal from your abortion trauma.
Every woman is different. What you feel after having an abortion may not be the same experience for another woman. Some of the most common emotions women reported feeling post-abortion included grief, guilt, sadness, and relief.
Women who initially feel relieved about their decision may later experience guilt over feeling happy about their choice. These feelings of guilt can eventually turn into depression. How can you tell if you’re depressed after an abortion? Look for these signs:
Even if you decide abortion is the best pregnancy option, you can still mourn the pregnancy afterwards. Grief after abortion can last for months or even years. Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque offers one-on-one sessions with a trained member of our staff. We also can refer you to group or individual counseling services.
It’s OK to feel relieved after an abortion. Coping with an unplanned pregnancy can be stressful. After exploring all your pregnancy options, you may decide abortion is right for you. Feeling like a burden has been lifted can be a common feeling afterward.
The short answer to this question is, it depends. For some women, they can rebound quickly. Others may struggle with their emotions and need mental health services to help them cope. Healing emotionally after an abortion can happen sooner if you follow these steps.
Absolutely. You’re not the only one who may be feeling guilty, angry, or grieving after an abortion. Your partner can struggle with all the same emotions. Very few studies have been done on the effects of abortion on men. The limited ones that exist confirm that men also may need emotional support after their partners choose abortion.
Men who pressured their partners into having an abortion may initially feel relief over their actions. Later, they can experience distress, guilt, and grief. These feelings can manifest differently in men than women. Men struggling with their feelings about their partner’s abortion can engage in self-destructive behavior. Drug and alcohol abuse are common.
If your partner is struggling with your decision to abort, support groups and counseling programs exist that can help them sort through their feelings.
Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque is a judgment-free zone. If you or your partner are having difficulty dealing with abortion guilt, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a session with a member of our caring staff at one of five convenient locations.
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