How Can I Recover Emotionally After an Abortion?

If you’ve had an abortion, you may need to process and unpack how this fits into the narrative of your life. Maybe you didn’t tell anyone else about the pregnancy and are now unsure how to share the news now that the pregnancy has been terminated.

Or maybe you’re just not even sure how you’re supposed to feel.

Realize That You’re Not Alone

After we’ve experienced some kind of emotional event in our lives, it’s easy to convince ourselves that we are alone or that people might think we are weak if we have an emotional response. 

Nearly 1 in 4 women in the US will have an abortion by the time that they are 45, so you are not alone. Sadly, what is often underreported are the emotional repercussions that they can potentially feel after the procedure. They may experience decreased self-esteem, major depression, or even suicidal behavior.

Give Yourself Time and Space

Allow yourself the freedom to speak about what you’re truly feeling rather than trying to suppress it. Give yourself time to process. You are on your own timeline, so your healing journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

It’s important to know what’s going on with your body too. After an abortion procedure, your hormones can fluctuate, which may affect your mood swings, too. Give your body some grace as you recover, just like you would with a friend.

Seek Post-Abortive Care

It’s important that you have your support system walking beside you on this journey. However, even then, seeking post-abortive counseling can make a significant difference in your mental health improvement. 

If mental health isn’t covered by your insurance, there are other places for you to search for the help you deserve.

If you are religious, many places of worship offer counseling services to those in need. Check out their website or contact their administrative office to see if this is an option for you.

Here at Women’s Resource Medical Center of Southern Nevada, we offer post-abortive counseling at no cost. You will be able to talk through your feelings in a safe environment with a trained member of our staff. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today!