After Abortion Support

Complicated Feelings Surrounding Your Abortion?

Each person’s experience with abortion is unique. No matter the reason for your past abortion(s), you may be feeling a variety of different things. Some women feel relief and do not regret their decision. Others may struggle with the decision and experience a sense of grief and loss. Some may not regret the decision but still feel a sense of loss or experience anxiety and depression.

You may be keeping your abortion a secret from your friends and family, and this can cause you to feel alone in your decision. You may also be experiencing loneliness in the ambiguity of your loss, or feeling like you should be fine with your decision.

Whatever you are feeling, know that you are not alone. Current studies estimate that nearly 24% of women have experienced abortion at some point in their lives, and 34% of women experienced negative effects from their medication abortion, no matter their stance on the topic.

“I was afraid to delve into such pain. This study gently but persistently helped me to take out the many aspects of my abortion and put light on all the darkness. I’ve been able to move into a healthier life than before. For all this and more, I am eternally grateful!”
— Participant

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What is Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS)?

Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) is the residual pain following an abortion that can be felt through shame, grief, anger, fear, guilt, regret or other mental or physical symptoms. A study by the American Psychological Foundation in 2008 found that approximately 38% of women who had experienced abortion experienced symptoms of abortion specific post-traumatic stress. Another study from the British Journal of Psychiatry indicated that women who have had an abortion are 81% more at risk for mental health problems, with 10% of those mental health problems shown to be directly related to the abortion itself.

Following an abortion, you may be experiencing depression, guilt, difficulty forgiving yourself, anxiety, panic attacks, discomfort around pregnant women and/or infants, flashbacks and/or nightmares, anger, feelings of numbness, sexual or relationship problems, or destructive behaviors such as eating disorders or illicit drug use. Some women may feel more symptoms or struggle emotionally around an anniversary, expected due date, the birth of a child later on, or other triggering events such as places or sounds. Each person’s grief and triggers are valid, and you are not alone.

Abortion Recovery

Healing from your abortion is possible. While it’s not easy to face the feelings surrounding an abortion experience, it can be incredibly beneficial. 

Our Abortion Support program, offered by Alpha Center in Fort Collins is a 9-week group. It is led by women who have personally experienced abortion(s) and can empathize with your situation. They can understand and relate to you. The leaders are trained and passionate about helping other women find the healing that they have found themselves. Each meeting lasts about 2 hours and the groups are small with 2-4 participants. This group is open for women who experienced medication abortion or surgical abortion, and can benefit those whose abortions were recent or years ago.

Our leaders are also able to meet with you one-on-one to provide support if you are unable or not yet ready to join a group.

Confidentiality is important to us, we want to make sure you feel comfortable sharing your experience and feelings.

Topics covered in the program include grieving the loss, restoring faith and trust in yourself, healing broken relationships, identifying and controlling triggers, and finding peace and closure.

FAQ

  • Like all of Alpha Center’s services, participating in AWAKE is a no-cost program.

  • Yes. We do not share your identity with others and your information will be kept confidential.

  • No, it doesn't matter if your abortion was 40 or 4 years ago, as long as you are ready. Before joining, you will meet with one of our group leaders to see if the group is right for you. Even if the group isn't the best option for you, we will work to find something to help your specific circumstance.

  • No. We have had women from all walks of life and beliefs attend and benefit from the group and program.

  • Yes. For a secular curriculum or program, we recommend Support After Abortion’s programs. For women and for men.

Why Seek a Support Group?

When you seek after-abortion support through Alpha Center, you will find a community that can offer support and understanding and know that you aren’t alone in your feelings.  Our leaders have been through their own abortion experiences and have sought healing, so they know firsthand what you may be feeling or have experienced. They have also been trained to support post-abortive women and in the curriculum itself.

Counseling

If you don’t feel ready or comfortable to attend a group, we have options to help you with your feelings surrounding your abortion. Alpha Center offers up to six free abortion counseling sessions with our professional counselors. Call 970.239.2272 to schedule a counseling appointment.

Support for Men

Women aren’t the only ones who may struggle after an abortion. A study showed that actually, 71% of men involved in an abortion decision experienced negative effects following a partner’s abortion, and that 1 in 5 men have been affected by a partner’s abortion. 

Alpha Center provides individual support for men who may be struggling with their role in an abortion decision. Call 970.221.5121 ext. 302 to be connected with our abortion counseling services.

woman wants support after feeling lonely with abortion
women supporting each other abortion healing

From women who sought post-abortive support…

  • african american woman feeling hope after abortion

    Julia

    “I came into it with relatively low expectations. [I was] mostly looking forward to a safe place that I could be heard. But I was not expecting this degree of peace and healing. It has really changed me and how I view challenges in my life all together. I learned things that aren’t classically taught, and I will continue to employ them in my going forward. Before this class, I was surviving the thoughts, emotions, and self-deprecation. Suppressing it all for an illusion of well-being. Now, however, I am remembering what it’s like to thrive, and feel truly alive and awake again. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and the time and care extended to me from my group.”

  • middle aged woman abortion healing

    Dinah

    “I had never processed my traumatic experience in a healing manner before participating in this AWAKE group. The study gave me a detailed guide to process trauma, and the order and content of the chapters were invaluable to me both in healing my abortion wound and in showing me how I can heal other life wounds. The significance and efficacy of this AWAKE group was equal parts the study guide and the leaders, who did a fantastic job of supporting me as I explored all the "stuff" I've been avoiding for decades. I cannot thank them enough for their love, support, and gentle encouragement!”

  • woman struggling with grief after abortion

    Kim

    This was an amazing study that I never could have imagined being available. I had felt alone in dealing with the pain for so long that it was destroying my life and relationships. I cried when I first read about the program. Just knowing that other women were suffering too and that this program was being offered to provide healing and hope was truly amazing and life-changing. I will never forget it and will forever be grateful for this program, the leaders, and fellow women in my class. I am forever changed. Thank you!

  • young woman working on abortion recovery holding a cat

    Tara

    Before I came to this study, I was in a cycle of hurt and shame. But the past nine weeks have changed that. The workbook that we used was so powerful, well-written, and wise, that it really shaped how I currently see myself. The safe space that was created at the Alpha Center made me able to talk about the hard work. The leaders not only made vulnerability possible but developed growth in this area. I was able to work through the grief I had been pushing down for the past decades. Now I am out of the cycle of shame and living in true freedom and forgiveness. I was able to truly say hello and goodbye to my unborn child. I was able to forgive myself as I am today and my past self for deciding to abort my child. This study has deeply changed my life.

Sources:

  1.  According to a 2014 study. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states

  2.  https://supportafterabortion.com/resources/medication-abortion/

  3. https://supportafterabortion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Report_SAA-Mens-National-Post-Personal-Abortion-Study.pdf

  4.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2022.01.012

  5. Gebeyehu NA, Tegegne KD, Abebe K, Asefa Y, Assfaw BB, Adella GA, Alemu BW, Sewyew DA. Global prevalence of post-abortion depression: systematic review and Meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 26;23(1):786. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05278-7. PMID: 37884930; PMCID: PMC10605843.

  6. Reardon DC. The abortion and mental health controversy: A comprehensive literature review of common ground agreements, disagreements, actionable recommendations, and research opportunities. SAGE Open Medicine. 2018;6. doi:10.1177/2050312118807624

  7. Coleman PK. Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2011;199(3):180-186. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230