Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome, or PASS, is a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
It is thought that as many as 40% of American women have had an abortion. Many post abortive women suffer unknowingly with PASS.
Some symptoms may closely follow the abortion procedure while others may occur much later. Some symptoms will be easier to recognize than others.
While most agree that abortion ends the life of a preborn child, there is less agreement on just what effects abortion has on the mother. A few widely observed effects are:
- Short and/or long term physical problems, including: excessive bleeding, cervical lacerations (possibly resulting in preterm labor), and an increased risk of breast cancer and other cancers.
- Short and/or long term psychological and spiritual effects, including: guilt, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Some will turn to drugs and alcohol or other destructive behaviors.
- An increased incidence (up to six times) of suicide.
Ironically, while abortion is promoted as “freedom of choice”, many women end up choosing abortion because they feel they have NO freedom and NO choice. (Research shows up to 65 percent of abortions are coerced or include physical force.)
Any traumatic event can result in PTSD and abortion is no exception, resulting in PASS. Even those who argue that PASS does not exist will acknowledge that having an abortion may cause feelings of sadness, grief, or regret.
At this time, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association does not recognize PASS. In fact, life advocates are accused of creating PASS to further their political agendas.
Abortion advocates will promote the procedure as a benefit to women. After 40 years of abortion on demand, however, there is more and more evidence to the contrary.
Abortion is rarely discussed, even though it is the most common medical procedure in America. The sense of loneliness, guilt and self-hatred is further perpetuated by the silence and/or perceived stigma.
The November 2012 election generated disturbing media coverage entitled the “war on women.” Indeed. Abortion’s regime has opened the door to exploitation of women on a scale never before seen. No ‘benefit’ before or since Roe v Wade has ever caused such widespread destruction to women – and their families.
Mother Teresa said: “The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate of human relationships.”
There is forgiveness and healing for women who seek it.
If you or someone you know suffers from Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome, please call the National Helpline for Abortion Recovery at (866)-482-5433. You can find more information concerning the after-effects of abortion at www.afterabortion.org.
Suzanne L. Ward
Georgia Right to Life
Public Relations/Education
suzanneward@grtl.org
@Kathy - yes, getting married does too make people have responsible SEX.
Where on any birth control does it say it is 100% effective? People can be responsible and still have unwanted pregnancies. If you are having sex you can get pregnant whether or not you are using protection.
"If you or someone you know suffers from Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome, please call the National Helpline for Abortion Recovery at (866)-482-5433. You can find more information concerning the after-effects of abortion at www.afterabortion.org.";
To add to my other reply - according to pro choice doctrine, my daughter was not viable to live and could be aborted (tell HER that). But she did. I just can't figure out how it is that we humans have the right to decide who lives or dies. I just don't get that (as far as belief goes). But for those who do find themselves in a predicament, have an abrotion, well, it's done and you can't go back so why not love them through it?
Perfect example...Somebody up there said that pro-abortion folks don't see the unborn as a life lost. This is untrue, as the very same self-annointed "fact-checkers" on this thread have conceded the fact that a life is lost. Of course, the person stating this gets a complete pass from them...why? Because calling out one of thier supporters on a fact like that runs counter to their cause. Pity. Such a thing just might lend some credibility and objectiveness.
If Jeff and his counterparts were to read through the comments posted here they would see that no one here has said there shouldn't be counseling available for post-abortion women experiencing difficulties. Neither has anyone said they think abortion is a walk-in-the-park, wake-up-and-have-one-without-thought type of activity. Simply that the person who wrote this blog presented a great deal of information that is blatantly wrong in an attempt to manipulate rather than inform. Manipulating women - regardless that you think you are doing it for their own good -- is never helpful. And Jeff, there are indeed people who believe as she does therefore it is not my place to "call her out". My own view is that life begins once the child is viable and can live on its own outside the womb. Until then that life is not more important than the life that is carrying it. This is why I support a woman's right to choose what happens with her body and why I also support limits on abortions. It is also why I rabidly suggest major changes to the current sex education for our children and easy, affordable access to birth control. Those who really want a reduction in abortion should be supporting these things too.
Kind of like telling me I hate women who miscarry because I oppose abortion? Ouch... But anyhoo...I know it's bad for the unborn to kill it. 100% of the time. But that's not what this article is about...It's actually about the post-abortion toll on women. Something I, admittingly, know little about but take interest in because, unlike the pro-abortion folks who think of the child as an afterthought (if they bother to mention he or she at all), some people care about BOTH...and that includes the post-abortion woman/girl. Issues like post abortion suicide...you don't share the author's concern about that? Seems to me like your more interested in shutting her POV down because it paints the after-effects of so called "Family planning" in a bad light. That's what it seems like to me. Or, to put it in terms that might be understood... Unborn child who was subjected to "Family Planning": Death. = Bad Post "Family Planning" Suicide of mother = MORE death = WORSE So...lets put aside the stuff we're not going to get anywhere with, and lets quit trying to bury the stuff your team doesn't want to discuss, and discuss it, hmmm? If the author has it all wrong, then tell me...how DO we prevent post-abortion suicide, depression, etc...?
Hard to believe that you are supporting the dissemination of outright falsehood on a serious issue simply because it suits your agenda.. Wait a minute ...It's not hard to believe at all Typical Hard to make a valid point if you have to invent your own facts to support it . If indeed the author actually cared about anyone's well being as opposed to simply going on an anti abortion rant one would think she could do so with the use of facts instead of lies
I'm not the one attempting to bury the original topic under bark-noisy, pro-abortion, "everyone who opposes abortion-hates women who miscarry" esque nonsense... I simply asked a question...If the author has it all wrong, how do we prevent post'"family-planning" suicides among women who...uh...planned their families? I love women...I love babies. I want to keep as many of both alive as possible. Including those who have had abortions. Abortion = death...post abortion suicide = MORE death. I presume you're against that kind of thing? If the author has it all wrong, I'm curious as to what the know-it-all pro abortion crowd has to say. I understand that part of "choice" includes not discussing the unborn child, but am I now to assume that you don't want to talk about the women who "choose" to end their lives following abortion too? You guys think you're the experts here...so lets talk about this
Anyone want to weigh in on that little nugget? Pro-Choicers only, please...
After the "aggressive family planning" (I'm referring to an actual abortion, mentioned directly, lest we endure further attempts to sidestep the issue here) How do we intervene to prevent suicide among these women? Suicide and depression are real problems among post-abortion women, and I will vaugely reference 4,000 years of human history to prove my point. (hey, it works for you guys) What do we do about it? Ignore it? Bark noisy and try to change the subject so nobody thinks bad thoughts about abortion rights?
Pretty sure we already covered "Facts" .Allow me to refer you to mine and Kathy's first posts on this particular topic. I think you'll find a quite comprehensive list of "facts" in direct dispute of the authors agenda driven statements of fantasy. The only one claiming to have some expertise on the matter is the original author and it appears her expertise is based on a big wagon full of BS that she irresponsibly shovels out as fact. Noting her other posts it seems a common theme as does the failure to actually attempt to support those points once her BS has been called. Certainly there are real issues that deserve discussion here, but it's pointless to attempt to build that discussion on a foundation of nonsense. Nice dog whistle with that "pro abortion" label dude . You know better and you should be just as ashamed by your use of that term as the original author should be of hers.But you arent because it gives you a chance to shake that tiny impotent fist while actually offering nothing of substance to reduce the body count. If indeed you are interested in serious discussion by all means please offer a solution .
In any event I asked you first. Women get depressed and commit suicide after abortions...I already readily admitted I know little about this particular facet, but I am concerned about it. I cite 4,000 years of human history as support for women committing suicide post-abortion as a problem. I am willing to accept your assertion that the author doesn't know what she's talking about. So give me your ideas instead of barking noisy...please, by all means offer a solution...
"Suicide and depression are real problems among post-abortion women, and I will vaugely reference 4,000 years of human history to prove my point. (hey, it works for you guys) " Care to cite a more tangible factual study to support your claims? Lets deal in reality and look at a problem as it actually exists (if indeed it exists at all) before we argue about how to solve it
People suffer from depression and commit suicide over all sorts of things. While , obviously , having an abortion is an emotional issue so is losing a job , giving birth wrecking a car etc etc . Is there a true verifiable correlation between abortion and suicide or , like the author's bogus breast cancer reference , is this just more of the same agenda driven horsepuckey ?
Yeah...that one really sticks in my craw... you guys can't claim a monopoly on the facts when you make up nonsense like that...it hurts your cred...
"hmmm...factual issues...like "You're against abortion = you hate women who miscarry" Is that a fact you care to discuss?" Dude.. I havent a clue what you're on about here, you seem to be inventing a quote? I cant find it in this discussion. Hmmmm inventing information , your wouldnt be the original author under a pseudonym would you?
Really? Man, don't even talk to me...
Perhaps you might share an ACTUAL quote if indeed you are accusing me of saying something ? Just a thought on the off chance that you intended to offer some credible discussion
And if you actually read what I wrote you would see I addressed the subject matter of this piece, "Do I agree that women are depressed after having an abortion? Absolutely. Do I think counseling should be made available to the woman who is struggling with her decision after the procedure? Yes, why this is even debated seems strange to me." As for how DO we prevent such? How about we start with the attitudes of the self-righteous and devout pro-lifers who LOVE to call these women monsters and stigmatize them in order to feel superior all the while doing their level best to push abstinence only education as well as pushing to have companies try to get out of paying for birth control because of their religious beliefs? That would be something to start with. And if you're going to quote me Jeff, quote me. You don't get to make stuff up anymore than she does.
I must agree that the blog piece should absolutely represent accurate factual information - especially when outlining statistics. The non-factual stats which can be misleading is even more of an issue, in my opinion, because the author of the article is not a woman, physician or counselor expressing a view point; the author clearly identifies her title (PR/Education) with a specific organization (Georgia Right to Life). If you are going to write an editorial of this nature in the capacity of a PR professional, not to mention the "education" aspect of the author's title, then it darn well needs to be 100%!!!