Victims Of Choice
My Abortion Grief Guilt And Shame Is Ending Soon
While a growing number of people have come to accept that a pregnant woman's decision to have an abortion results in the irrevocable loss of a unique and precious human being, not simply a glob of "fetal tissue", few realize that the potentially damaging effects of abortion do not stop once a woman walks out of the facility. In fact, there is strong evidence that traumatic memories, guilt, shame, remorse and anger can continue on for years after her abortion, radiating outward in ever-growing circles like a stone dropped into a still pool of water; touching every aspect of her life. Relationships can be strained or ended, personal growth stunted, spirituality stifled, and on and on and. . . In short, abortion hurts and keeps on hurting everyone involved. Just think of all the people whose lives are touched by the thousands of abortions performed each day in the U.S. alone - women, children, fathers, parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, not to mention the people involved in the procedures. When you think about it, abortion touches us all. The bad news is that women are still choosing abortion, many without full understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual consequences they may face for the rest of their lives. While the decision to abort is rarely an easy one and the procedure can be difficult and painful, many women seek momentary relief through abortion, unaware of the cost of experiencing that fleeting emotion. Emotions come and go, pregnancy is short - abortion is forever.
The good news is that HEALING IS POSSIBLE! RECONCILIATION IS POSSIBLE!
"And Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26, NIV. Hope and help are just a phone call away. If you or someone you love is experiencing unresolved grief, guilt, and shame after abortion, Victims of Choice can help. In addition to providing information and support, Victims Of Choice offers a life transforming after abortion program. My Abortion Grief, Guilt and Shame is Ending Soon is a life transforming after abortion counseling, ten-session therapy model built on a biblical foundation and administered by a trained professional or lay/peer facilitator. Your facilitator acts as peer counselor, teacher and friend, guiding you through the healing process using a combination of readings, discussions, and exercises proven to help you get to the root of your pain and lead you to forgiveness, closure and freedom that only God through His Holy Spirit can do. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He [God] who began a good work in you will perfect [bring to completion] it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6. My Abortion Grief, Guilt and Shame Is Ending Soon is unique because it offers a one-to-one experience. This means that you will receive private care and personal attention. You have your facilitator's undivided attention throughout the sessions as she comforts, instructs, leads and offers hope.
What can happen
if I ignore the problem?
It is not that we wish to paint a bleak picture for ever woman who has experienced an abortion. Some women say that their past abortion has had no adverse effect on them. We say, good for you, I'm glad. This page is for those women who do experience an unexpected negative fallout after an abortion experience.
After an abortion, many women are not allowed to express their feelings of loss or regret. Therefore grief is truncated or unresolved. The tears and feelings are stuffed. Negative response can be experience immediately, days, weeks, months or years later. It seems that a mother cannot participate in the death of her unborn child and remained unaffected.
Many women have acted contrary to their beliefs about themselves in submitting to abortion. When a person violates their core values, feelings of guilt and shame are frequently experienced. Often these feelings do not just go away, a person may need to 'self-medicate' with anything that she hopes will lessen the pain or cause her to forget. In the attempt to numb the pain, many women will begin to experience sleep or eating disorders, increase drug or alcohol use and abuse, distance self from family and friends.
Time does not heal - time allows perfecting coping skills - often these coping skills are self-destructive.
"In the clamor for liberalization of abortion laws, 'side effects' of the procedure are sometimes overlooked, both physical and mental injury may result from legal as well as illegal abortion." the World Medical Journal 1966. "Aside from the fact that abortion is the taking of a life, I am also mindful of what was brought out by our psychiatrists--that in almost every case abortion, whether legal or illegal, is a traumatic experience that may have severe consequences later on." Dr. Mary Calderone, said in 1967 to interviewer. (The reader may not know that Dr. Calderone is an abortion advocate.)
Take our "Self-Assessment Test".
Possibly the results will help determine if you are okay with your abortion or not.
Help us in our research
We invite you to complete our Data Sheet which aids us in developing materials to address the needs of women and men regarding after abortion matters.
Print, complete and return the Data Sheet. Thank you for your much needed input.
