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 Associated Problems for Post Abortive Women 
ANXIETY
Generalised Anxiety
Some
people experience a degree of anxiety that may be related
to a recent or past abortion. Other factors may contribute to or
exacerbate anxiety for a person e.g. violent relationships, existing
mental health problems, extraordinary stress, another significant life
event. The spectrum of anxiety may range from mild to severe, including
agoraphobia or panic attacks. Generalised anxiety may include symptoms
of inability to concentrate, difficulty sleeping, worry over future,
increased heart rate or palpitations, tension, headaches or
gastrointestinal disturbances. If you are concerned please see a
doctor. Counselling may help with anxiety producing triggers.
Anxiety over fertility and child-bearing issues
A small percentage of women experience fertility problems which may or may not be related to a past abortion. Some have
difficulties with subsequent pregnancies or birth. Numbers of women
however, experience a higher than usual anxiety over fertility and
child bearing issues. Fear of damage to their reproductive systems or a
fear of punishment is often cited. (1)
Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again
It is not uncommon for a woman to have a strong desire to
become pregnant again after an abortion. There is for some a sense of
emptiness which is a normal part of any pregnancy-baby loss. There may
be a drive for a substitute child, trying to replace the child that was
lost. This may feel particularly strong if she was ambivalent about the
abortion or termination in the first place, or it was a wanted child.
GUILT & INABILITY TO FORGIVE ONESELF
A woman may feel guilt from an abortion where she has violated her
moral code, whether that is founded on a personal. religious or
cultural belief. For the woman who has come to believe, at some point
after the abortion, that she consented to or participated in the
termination and death of her pre-born child, the burden of guilt can
feel huge. The struggle to forgive oneself may be complicated - on the
one hand it may be possible to rationalise the abortion away, but on
the other hand it may be unforgettable, and so triggers may occur which
stimulate guilty feelings. If you are unable to manage the guilt you
may need professional or pastoral help to enable you to deal with it.
(1)
For some women there may be survival guilt - where the decision for
abortion felt like a matter of survival - I did it to survive, and felt
there was nothing else I could do. For others there may be survivor
guilt - I survived and my baby didn't.
Guilt zaps energy and motivation and causes unfounded fears. It can
distance between friends, family, the world, one's God… which leads to
isolation and feelings of loneliness. Guilt also can cause inaction of
good deeds towards self and others. Guilt is often accompanied by anger
and shame.
PARENTING or RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
Subsequent children
Some
women experience undue concerns over parenting subsequent children,
tending towards overprotectiveness, through a similar fear of something
happening to these children. Some women have expressed difficulties
bonding with subsequent children. There is some evidence to suggest
that siblings, current or future can be affected by an abortion in the
family. There may be some emotional impact on children who have lost a
sibling to abortion. In essence, on some level these siblings of
aborted children feel themselves to be “abortion survivors”. Some
exhibit the same symptomatology as those who lose a born sibling to
cancer or accidental death…(2)
Subsequent relationship problems
Relationship problems following an abortion are not uncommon. Those
who had an abortion to please their partner often find their
relationship ends within a few years, as broken trust, guilt and
resentment, often underscore the existing weaknesses in the
relationship, causing problems which precipitate a relationship
breakdown. Others who continue in their relationships describe issues
of increasing tension, resentment, arguments, problems with sex and
intimacy.
ANGER
Anger may be associated with unresolved grief, hurts,
relationships conflicts or it may be spiritual anger over what has
happened. Often those around the post-abortive woman will notice
changes, such as greater irritability or outbursts. Anger belies hurt
or loss and usually won't dissipate until issues are explored and
worked through. Finding healthy ways to manage anger is an important
step.
DEPRESSION
Depression is worth a special mention as it is recognised as one of
the most frequent recognisable abortion sequelae, particularly where it
originated around the time of, or following, the event. Shame, secrecy
and thought suppression regarding an abortion are all associated with
greater post-abortion depression, anxiety, and hostility.(3)
Depression may be associated with impacted or pathological grief
(loss of the baby, loss or a role, loss of a dream). Depression may be
the result of unexpressed anger, changes in primary relationships or
personal circumstances or deeper unresolved issues. Interestingly, the
frequency and degree of severe depression associated with abortion is
far higher than with miscarriage, even though the loss in each case is
comparable.(4) Whether this is due to the fact miscarriage is generally
regarded as an unfortunate accident and abortion the result of “choice”
attached to it is not fully understood.
Some studies also show that the incidence of suicide is higher for
abortion than miscarriage, and data suggests that abortion is more
likely than pregnancy and childbirth to drive an unstable woman to
suicide.(5)
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOURS
Drugs/alcohol
abuse, promiscuity, workaholism....
These are often used as a means of self-medication or a way of
coping with the mental or emotional pain of abortion memories. If these
were present before the abortion, they may become worse afterwards.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders may develop also as a means of control or
self-punishment. Anorexia may be a way of becoming unattractive or
underweight (possibly causing cessation of periods or menstruation) so
as not to become pregnant again, or a hiding and reinforcing a sense of
unworthiness. One woman described developing bulimia - stuffing food
was what she was doing with her emotions and then purging was a way of
releasing emotions. (1)
High Risk Behaviours, self harm or cutting
Numbers of people, particularly youth, engage in high risk
behaviours or self harm like cutting. If and how these might relate to
an abortion needs careful assessment. If related to an abortion then
professional help to deal with the issues ought to be found.
References:
-
Help for the Post-Abortion Woman, Teri Reissner, 1989
- The Wounded Generation,
Victoria M. Thorn, Post Abortion Review, Vol 5, No.1, Winter 1997
- Clinical Depression
After Unintended Pregnancy Linked to Abortion,
www.afterabortion.org/
- Aborted Women. Silent
No More, David Reardon, Loyola University Press, Chicago,
1987,
- The Abortion Suicide
Connection, Post Abortion Review, Vol 1, No.2, 1993; Suicides after pregnancy in Finland,
M. Gissler, E Menninkin, and J Lönnqvist, British Medical Journal
313:1-11, 1996
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