It is common for many of us to deny some of Life's Truths purely as a coping mechanism.

The existence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of an abortion is one such truth that some feel is easier dealt with by suppressing the reality of the situation. 

Today, we provide a few testimonies from women who have been helped out of their post-trauma condition. 

A woman must become aware of how her abortion has affected her in order to work through her feelings to find resolution and peace.  

Kimberly says: "I was afraid to think about my abortion because I wanted to keep it 'numb'. I thought if I talked about it, all these emotions would emerge and I would actually realise what I had done. I thought this would make me feel worse than originally. Now, I know these feelings need to be dealt with so that I can let them loose."

Kari says: "A part of me died, and it took me nine-and-a-half years to identify what died. The part of me that died from my abortion was my son or daughter whom I'll never know. I repressed and denied this for so long that emotionally I started to die too. I started to lose interest in life. My husband didn't matter. My children didn't matter. I wanted to die, but I never knew why. I felt like I was a lost child who didn't want to find my way home. I was a tree in spring without a bud of life on any branch. My roots lost their ability to drink the water of life. I never quite knew what was wrong with me."

Linda says: "I was fully awake, no pills given, or shots. I lay there with tears rolling down my face. The room was cool. My tears felt like fire on my face, cutting it, slice by slice, tear by tear. My hands were wet with sweat; my right hand squeezed the counsellor's thin, cold hand as though squeezing the life out of her. My left hand lay fisted, clenched tightly on my vibrating stomach as the abortion occurred. It felt as though someone was raping me with a 15 amp canister vacuum hose with no mercy as I lay there helpless, crying calmly, as if agreeing to be raped."

Heather says: "The pain of my abortion is so real. The thought of killing your own child can push you over the edge. It has taken me years to overcome this grief. Abortion destroyed not only my child, but myself. I wish people knew that the aborted baby never really goes away."

Sonnie says: "I was afraid to think about my abortion. I couldn't allow myself to think of my abortion as a loss. For years I did not even know what was wrong with me. I never identified the source of my anger and pain. I just knew I was hurting inside.real bad. I cut myself from feelings. I was always numb."

No woman is safe from these negative emotions. Even those who have spent years battling for abortion rights, and who have intellectually confronted all these issues surrounding the question of abortion, may suddenly find themselves ill-prepared to cope with the emotional impact of abortion." 

All quotes are from Forbidden Grief a must read book available at EmmanuelCommunity. www.afterabortion.org/news/inpatientCMAJ.html

Other resource:
Elliot Institute
Post Office Box 7348
Springfield , IL 62791
(217) 525-8202 Fax: (217) 525-8212

Unplanned pregnancy?

For help, you can call/visit us at

Emmanuel Community
46 Rosalino Street, Woodbrook
@ 628-1064, 1586 or 8181.