ISSUES
: Abortion
Chapter 1: Abortion facts
18
various symptoms, which are
sometimes called post-abortion
stress.
Symptoms of post-abortion
stress (PAS)
Symptoms can include the
following:
Ö
emotions such as guilt, grief,
sense of loss and anger
Ö
feeling the need to ‘replace’
the pregnancy
Ö
a feeling of distance from
existing children
Ö
inability to maintain normal
routine
Ö
depressed feelings, which are
stronger than ‘a little sadness’
Ö
sleeping problems
Ö
flashbacks
Ö
tearfulness
Ö
disturbing
dreams
or
nightmares
Ö
difficulty being near babies or
pregnant women.
In severe cases a woman can
become suicidal, self-harming,
indulge in risk-taking behaviours,
become dependent on drugs or
alcohol, suffer anxiety or panic
attacks.
Onset of symptoms
These symptoms can occur at any
stage after an abortion and are
sometimes triggered by another
loss later on.
Some women are more susceptible
to these symptoms, particularly
if there was uncertainty or
ambivalence surrounding the
decision.
Other factors
Other factors that can influence
PAS include:
Ö
whether the woman was
comfortable with the idea of
abortion
Ö
strong motherly feelings or
maternal instinct
Ö
previous depression or mental
ill health
Ö
feeling she had no choice
because circumstances were
overwhelming
Ö
having an abortion after a
disability had been diagnosed
in a wanted pregnancy
Ö
feeling
pressurised
by
someone close.
If you are experiencing any of these
please do see your GP.
The abortion rate has declined
Key facts on worldwide abortion
The annual abortion rate is now higher
in developing regions than in developed regions.
Globally, 25% of all pregnancies in 2010–2014 ended in abortion.
Nearly 7 million women in developing countreis
are treated for complications from unsafe abortions annually,
and at least 22,000 die from abortion-related complications every year.
Source:
Key facts on induced abortion worldwide
, World Health Organization and Guttmacher Institute, May 2016
by 41% in
developed countries since 1990.
Other help
Other help is available – The
Journey, a therapeutic programme
developed by CareConfidential,
enables women to work towards
recovery from a troubled abortion
experience.
This
counselling
is open to women who are
experiencing distress following
abortion, whether immediately
after or many years later.
If you have had an abortion and
need to discuss your feelings
with someone please contact
CareConfidential for free and in
confidence on 0800 028 2228 or
visit
.
Crisis pregnancy help
CareConfidential Helpline
Impartial and confidential:
0800 028 2228
Ö
The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from Mental Healthy. Please
visit
for further information.
© Mental Healthy 2016
