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Post
Abortion Trauma
©
Victims of Abortion, 2008.
I appreciate that the abortion issue is contentious however, this is
no excuse for the deceit which is being perpetrated even by those
who carry out studies. Women continue to be deceived in the failure
to tell them about post abortion grief and trauma and suffering, and
the increased risk of breast cancer, her increased risk in a number
of mental health disorders.
Typically what is always offered as an excuse is that without
legalized abortion there will be a return to “coat hanger” backyard
abortions. Now this is absolute rubbish.
Because what is behind this nonsense is the desire of the pro
abortion “baby killing” industry for freedom to kill pre born
infants with impunity. This is why the most coverage is in favour of
abortion. I am tired of the feminist brigade who are supposed to
care for their “sisters” health and well-being and fail completely
to understand that a woman cannot ever take her child (or as some
would call it their fetus, their bunch of cells, their “tissue”) to
be killed and then proceed as if nothing has happened. Post abortion
syndrome is notorious for its silence even for years and its abrupt
emergence after a trigger.
Post Abortion Syndrome appears to affect indiscriminately those
abort, and whilst studies show that up to 87% of those who
experience an abortion are to some degree affected, it is my
contention that the figure is higher. Post Abortion Syndrome is a
long term, slow developing and multi symptom. It is especially
insidious because of its “slow developing” character and therefore
it may be years before the source of the pain is identified yes its
effect on the mental health of the woman has been at times
decimating.
How does the unconscious attempt to resolve its dissonance? By
flashbacks, reliving the abortion day or actual time leading to the
procedure. Nightmares. Mood changes, uncontrollable weeping,
depression, hostility towards males or alternatively promiscuity,
obsessive behaviour towards another child or avoidance of children
especially infants, loss of any sense of joy of life, severe post
natal depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, relationship
difficulties, suicide and the list continues. We recognize some of
these symptoms as symptoms pertaining to Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder.
Time does not ameliorate the condition. Indeed with Post Abortion
Syndrome time appears to increase and intensify the symptoms.
Intervention is often sought after years of maladaptive behaviour
and much psychological suffering and of course this makes the
journey back to wholeness a most difficult journey. The healing of
post abortion trauma is difficult because always there is the
knowledge that “intent” was involved. It is the “intent,” the guilt
of one’s responsibility for the death of one’s own infant (this is
how it is described in later years) that prevents a healing from
occurring.
Post Abortion trauma is made more insidious because the decision is
both time specific and irreversible. The decision made is usually
made in haste because of what appears to be limited time and
prevailing difficulties. . The decision made during a crisis moment,
especially a decision about life and death needs to be understood as
irreversible and needs to be understood in the present context and
future context. The present context is infused with difficulties and
these difficulties need to be seen for what they are, that is, time
specific and transient, whilst the termination of a pregnancy is
permanent.
Whilst it is understood that an unplanned pregnancy is usually
considered a crisis pregnancy, it must also be understood that it is
a conception and a pregnancy all the same, with all the emotional
turmoil of any pregnancy. Hormonal changes ensure that the
individual is buffeted with a range of emotions. This of course
leads to the idea that “informed consent” can be given to justify an
abortion. Indeed it is believed that as long as details of possible
dangers are explained to the woman then an abortion can be safely
carried out because it is assumed that she has understood and agreed
with all that was said. This is not so because under a crisis
situation an individual is not capable of understanding clearly the
possible ramifications of an action. Indeed all that is possible
during a crisis time is automatic response thus rendering her
incapable of fully understanding all the implications of this
decision, for the present and for her future. Any consent given is
also time and context specific. A woman, who in a crisis time sees
an 8-10 week fetus as simply “tissue” will see her future “tissue”
of the same gestation as a “baby” because this time it is not a
crisis pregnancy. A decision to abort made under crisis condition
has the potential to cause enormous pain in the future and future
pregnancies.
Abortion trauma, to varying degrees will be experienced by nearly
every woman who aborts however there are some individuals who are
more at risk. Amongst those who are in the higher risk categories
are those who abort for genetic anomalies. Studies clearly show that
women who abort for these reasons are at higher risk of prolonged
psychiatric treatment or hospitalization in the 12 months after the
abortion. There are indeed numerous studies, which clearly indicate
that abortion for fetal abnormality leads to severe long-term
psychological reaction. Also, when there is an abortion for fetal
abnormality the child is usually of advanced gestation, a “wanted”
child and bonding has occurred. Abortion for fetal abnormality will
not remove a problem but leaves in its wake a lifelong anguish and
emptiness of heart. Indeed a characteristic of abortion is deep
sense of emptiness.
Today it is also understood and known that abortion is linked to
breast cancer especially where an abortion has been carried on out
on youthful person and prior to live birth, and multiple abortions
increase markedly the risk of breast cancer. There are studies which
have not been refuted which clearly show the risks.
There are many theories concerning multiple abortions and one of
these theories is that the woman seeks (unconsciously) to have an
“atonement” child to replace the first aborted one, thus becoming
pregnant to fulfil or complete something begun and not successfully
completed. There is much work, which needs to be done in the area of
post abortion trauma. We are only at the very beginning. However, it
is important to understand that it does exist. Irrespective of
strident voices attempting negate the sufferings following an
abortion, it is important to know that post abortion trauma and
grief is real –and requires much gentle handling in order to be able
move the sufferer from despair to forgiveness and healing.
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