If you or someone you know is suffering from the fallout due to an abortion, there are counseling centers available.
Counseling Centers within New Jersey
Counseling Centers outside of New Jersey
Other resources:
Rachel’s Vineyard weekends for healing after abortion are offered throughout the year in locations across the United States and Canada, with additional sites around the world. Rachel’s Vineyard is a ministry of Priests for Life .
The program is an opportunity to examine your abortion experience, identify the ways that the loss has impacted you in the past and present, and helps to acknowledge any unresolved feelings that many individuals struggle with after abortion. Because of the emotional numbness and secrecy that often surrounds an abortion experience, conflicting emotions both during and after the event may remain unresolved. These buried feelings can surface later and may be symptoms of post abortion trauma.
Married couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings of aborted children, as well as persons who have been involved in the abortion industry have come to Rachel’s Vineyard in search of peace and inner healing. The weekend is a lot of work but yields a fruitful harvest for all who are willing to labor there. To learn more, please read about the weekend retreats. Also, please see comments from people who have attended the weekends, as well as their explanation of the name “Rachel’s Vineyard.”
Ramah International: Abortion Recovery Program
Ramah Internation international is a non-profit ministry whose mission is three-fold: Directly assist those hurting from PAS through communication, resources and local referrals, Raise the level of awareness about Abortion PTSD and the needs of individuals who have experienced abortion; Provide Abortion PTSD resources, research and training programs necessary to mobilize and equip “the church” to reach out and help those affected by abortion so that post abortive individuals can become involved in helping others who are considering or have experienced abortion.
Possible Psychological Effects of Abortion:
- Intense guilt / shame
- Desire to end relationship with partner
- Hatred of persons connected with abortion
- Re-experience of abortion
- Suicidal impulses
- Mourning / withdrawal
- Loss of confidence
- Eating disorders
- Hostility / anger
- Anniversary syndrome
- Anxiety over fertility and pregnancy issues
- Interrupted bonding process with other children
- Inability to forgive oneself
Possible Physical Effects:
- Sterility
- Miscarriages
- Ectopic Pregnancies
- Stillbirths
- Hemorrhage
- Infection
- Shock and comas
- Perforation of uterus or cervix
- Retained placenta or fetal parts
- Intense pain
- Loss of body organs
- Decreased work capacity