Post-Abortion Stress

Post-abortion stress is often experienced following an abortion. Symptoms of post-abortion stress can vary in broad ranges from person to person. The timing of such symptoms can also vary. For some women, it is immediate that severe emotional distress will occur after an abortion. For others, it can be 10, 20, 30+ years until it is recognized or confronted.

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Signs of post-abortion stress:

1. Guilt

2. Anxiety

3. Psychological numbing

4. Depression and/or thoughts of suicide

5. Anniversary syndrome

6. Flashbacks

7. Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again

8. Childbearing issues 

9. Interruption of the bonding process with present and/or future children

10. Excessive behaviors

11. Drug and alcohol intake/abuse

12. Self punishing or self-degrading behaviors

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