Some people dispute the fact that women who have had abortions experience post-trauma, rather than provide the real help that these women need to make future positive choices.

This is likely due to the fact that most of us are not trained in Trauma Therapy and so do not recognise the symptoms.

In the United States there at present several clinics where trauma therapists are treating women with Post Abortion Trauma.

As a matter of fact, women who have been "victims" of the abortion procedure are now lobbying the US Congress to reverse abortion laws in that country.

Post-abortive women have come out in vast numbers to warn other women of the dangers that abortion has had on their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. One of the most popular US groups is Operation Outcry: Silent No More.

US psychotherapist, Dr Theresa Burke PhD, says that in her practice she treated the symptoms of post-trauma in a general way. Later, in her sessions with patients, a common thread was revealed: many of them had had abortions . Only then was she able to help the women face the guilt they had unknowingly buried for years.

Symptoms include compulsive and self-destructive behaviour, eating disorders, low self-esteem, broken, abusive relationships, depression and parenting difficulties.

Dr Burke had amazing results in treating these symptoms following the revelation of her patients' abortion history. "We acknowledge the first step to a healing of the mind is the correct diagnosis of the cause ".

The healing of her patients is evidence that their post-abortion problems were properly diagnosed, which is also an indication that their presenting problems were truly related to their abortions.

Evidence does exist

A study published in an issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) provides more evidence of post-abortion trauma. A review of the medical records of 56,741 Medic Aid patients in California revealed that women who had abortions were 2.6 times more likely than delivering women to be hospitalised for psychiatric treatment in the first 90 days following abortion or delivery, respectively.

Male doctors are not generally sensitive enough to explore this area of the past history of their patients as part of trauma therapy.

"Therapists who fixate on the 'abortion is benign' theory, either out of ignorance or allegiance to defensive political views on abortion, are doing a great disservice to women who need understanding and support," said Dr David Reardon, who co-authored a book with Dr T Burke, Forbidden Grief: The unspoken pain of abortion .

He added: "This study, based on objective medical records, validates the claims of tens of thousands of women in post-abortion recovery programmes."

Forbidden Grief is a must read book and is available at Emmanuel Community. 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.