Maybe someone was pressuring you; maybe you weren’t given all the information; maybe you realized what you were doing and saw no clear way out. But you were scared and had you known then what you know now, you would have
done things differently. No one told you about the depression, the panic attacks, the times of remorse so deep you wondered if you’d ever emerge. The counselor at the clinic didn’t tell you that your abortion might someday be something you’d
call, “the biggest mistake of my life.”
You’re not alone. There are millions who belong to a group called “post-abortive women.” According to the Guttmacher Institute, by the time a woman reaches the age of 45, one in three will have undergone an abortion. A recent survey was
distributed to 111 post-abortive women. After their abortion, the majority of them experienced guilt, depression, anger, sorrow, remorse, feelings of unworthiness, self-condemnation and loneliness. Almost half experienced a loss of dignity and
self-esteem. This is called Post Abortion Syndrome. And it’s real.
Have you tried to wear a brave face since your abortion? You’re not alone there either. There seems to be a prevalent thought that you should be able to simply walk away unscathed from an abortion experience, patting yourself on the back for
making an intelligent choice regarding your schooling or your career. And if you can’t do that, well, maybe you’re just emotionally unstable. But you know the truth. You remember that moment, soon after the abortion, when you faced yourself in
the mirror and admitted to yourself what actually happened in there. Or maybe it’s hitting you right now, months or years later.
Nobody told you that when you got ready to “start your family” you would constantly remember your first baby. Nameless and never to be acknowledged. Even when you were rejoicing over your first child’s birth, you couldn’t help but grieve over
your “real” first child. After holding that baby in your arms, suddenly no one could convince you, not even yourself, that abortion was the best choice because you couldn’t get around the truth that you ended a life. Now, looking down at this
new life, every justification seems inadequate.
Don’t despair. There is life and healing after an abortion. You don’t need to carry this heavy load forever. You can find forgiveness from God, and believe it or not, yourself. There are post-abortive women who have made it their calling to
reach out to you. They’ve been there and they understand. Isn’t it time to set your feet on the path to restoration? Despite what you may think, you deserve to heal, to be set free, and to move forward into a life where the emptiness and pain
can be eclipsed by hope and healing.
