You may be unsure if you experiencing symptoms of Post Abortion Stress.  Below are listed some of the symptoms that many women feel regarding their abortion.

  • Guilt (results from violating one’s own sense of right and wrong)
  • Anxiety (headaches, dizziness, pounding heart, abdominal cramps, muscle tightness, difficulty sleeping, etc.)
  • Avoidance Behaviors (of anything re-mindful of pregnancy and children)
  • Psychological “numbing” (the unconscious vow to never let anything hurt this badly again can hamper the ability to enter fully into an emotional, intimate relationship)
  • Depression (sad mood, sudden and uncontrollable crying episodes, deterioration of self-concept, sleep and appetite disturbances, reduced motivation, loss of normal sources of pleasure, thoughts of suicide)
  • Re-experiencing events related to the abortion (persistent thoughts and flash-back memories or nightmares involving themes of lost or dismembered babies)
  • Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again (representing and unconscious hope that a new pregnancy will replace the baby that was aborted)
  • Interruption or disruption of the bonding with present and/or future children  (under bonding or over bonding with other children, whether born before or after a woman has an abortion)
  • Self-abuse/self-destructive behaviors (eating disorders, alcohol and/or substance abuse, cigarette smoking, abusive relationships, promiscuity, failure to take care of one’s self medically)
  • Anniversary reactions (an increase in symptoms around the time of the abortion, the due date of the aborted child or both)
  • Brief Psychotic disorder (a psychotic break with reality lasting for a short period of time within two weeks of the abortion)

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

You are not alone. Experience hope and healing with other women that have suffered from an abortion.  Join us for an 8-week Bible study designed to help women deal with the emotional and spiritual trauma caused by abortion.

For more information or to register for the next group please contact Caroline at the Columbia Pregnancy Center. All calls are confidential. 503.397.6047 or cpc@colcenter.org