Emotional side effects are not uncommon after an abortion or miscarriage, whether planned or not. In some cases, depression may occur. However, the fact that it is artificial termination of pregnancy that is its cause during this period has not been confirmed. This theory, that abortion causes women to suffer emotional and psychological trauma, is promoted by opponents of the procedure and by politicians who want to ban it.
Current research refutes the impact of abortion on subsequent anxiety, mood swings, eating disorders or suicidal ideation. Moreover, the vast majority of women report relief after an abortion. Those who experience feelings of regret over time mostly suffer from social pressure and lack of support. And if there was a tendency to depression before pregnancy, then it will remain after the abortion. It is not a cause in itself.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2017 found that psychological symptoms increased only in women who wanted an abortion but were not allowed to undergo the procedure due to the clinic's gestational age restrictions. But their deterioration in mental health was short-lived, regardless of whether they went elsewhere for an abortion or gave birth.
Common first feelings after an abortion
Contrary to what you might think, your first feelings may not be sadness and regret. Some women feel relieved that they made the right choice for themselves and took action to correct a difficult situation. It is important to understand that this feeling may be short-lived, and you need to be prepared for other emotions. Other women experience deep regret and sadness immediately after an abortion. This is due to the inability to get back what you just lost.
It is not uncommon to experience a range of psychological and emotional reactions.
Any loss of pregnancy will result in an interruption of the hormonal cycle. The negative feelings that occur after an abortion may be at least partially caused by hormonal changes similar to those that occur after an unplanned pregnancy loss (miscarriage).1
According to the American Pregnancy Association, common negative feelings include:
- guilt
- anger
- a shame
- remorse or regret
- loss of self-esteem or confidence
- feelings of isolation and loneliness
- sleep problems and bad dreams
- relationship problems
- thoughts of suicide
Additionally, some women may experience sadness, stress, or a sense of loss and may feel unable to cope. If you experience suicidal thoughts or desire to harm yourself, you should seek immediate help.1
And so usually at some point there is a feeling of relief, as well as a period of grief and sadness. This can make you feel confused about your feelings. One important and most common phenomenon associated with negative emotions after an abortion is that women tend to “push” them inside themselves. They try to live each day as usual, trying not to confront the feelings they experience.
TOP best advice from psychologists
3 pieces of advice received - consultations from psychologists, to the question: Depression after miscarriage
Replies on the site: 2257 Conducts trainings: 0 Publications: 6
My husband no longer has the strength to tolerate me. He is nervous.
If an adult does not have the strength to be with you, and it is difficult for you with yourself, then how can a little one survive where it is difficult for adults? Marina, you can cry and moan about a failed pregnancy, torment yourself and your husband, but how much does this help you save your family, restore your strength and health, in order to create a safe environment for a newly emerging life? If you don’t stop tormenting yourself, then it’s unlikely that anyone else will help you with this. If you cannot cope with your condition on your own, then the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist will be useful for you.
Pabst Lyubov Veniaminovna, psychologist Dresden, consultations via Skype
Good answer 3 Bad answer 1
Psychologist Nur-Sultan Was online: 3 days ago
Replies on the site: 2171 Conducts trainings: 0 Publications: 5
Why don't you really live separately? And if you are truly dear to each other, then no separation or divorce will stop you from living together again.
Sharing a bed, in this situation, only aggravates your anxiety. In a good way, you need to calm down. It is likely that the miscarriage occurred due to increased nervousness and anxiety. Give yourself time to rest and look around.
My husband and I fight very often, but nevertheless we have come to the conclusion that we want a child.
Is it respectful to the child that he was initially conceived with the goal of reconciling you?
Would you agree to such a life?
Good answer 5 Bad answer 1
Psychologist Moscow Last visit: 12/10/2019
Replies on the site: 867 Conducts trainings: 1 Publications: 34
Good afternoon, Marina. As often happens after an injury, a person with a wound that has not yet healed rushes into active activity, trying to forget about the wound. As a result, there is not enough energy, that is, apathy and depression arise, because a mental wound, just like a physical wound, needs treatment. First, you need to diagnose the level of depression - please take the Beck Depression Scale and the Zung Depression Scale. If the indicators are high, working with a psychologist is mandatory and a consultation with a psychiatrist is advisable.
I have come to the conclusion that I want a divorce.
The loss of a child is a big burden on a relationship, and often a man is worried just as much as a woman, or even more, but it happens that a man does not have much ability to express his feelings. Try not to manipulate the divorce during this period. There is no need to make sudden movements at a time when the soul is wounded. (And not only your soul is wounded, but also the soul of your man.) Try to take care of yourself - just as if it were a physical wound. There is no need to throw pain from one area to another area. This is about the same as if a person who breaks his leg quits his favorite job - yes, of course, you can worry about losing your job for a while, but your leg will not heal. Simple rules for treating yourself during the period of recovery from mental wounds: 1) try not to add other mental wounds, do not make sudden movements, give yourself time - accumulate spiritual strength, heal the wounds 2) consult a specialist - see what kind of wound it is, how deep it is whether it needs to be “stitched up”, is there any fragments in it, is there any festering - just as a surgeon examines fractures, a psychologist works in the same way with mental wounds3) talk, write, draw - throw out worries about a mental wound before until they subside - preferably in the presence of a specialist psychologist who will help this river find the right channel4) take care of your mental garden by weeding out mental weeds - that is, not allowing incorrect conclusions to grow from the situation, about how incorrect conclusions are obtained , see here: https://www.all-psy.com/stati/detail/4644/1/, about how to stop negative thoughts, see here: https://www.all-psy.com/stati/ detail/4644/1/5) good thoughts that help you cope with the situation, that support you and your self-confidence when they come - write them down and record them, some can be written on small pieces of paper and hung around the house - so that your gaze finds them when you feel worse. If you need support, contact us. Try to take your soul seriously, your path, your experience of emotional wounds - and then everything that happens will become an experience that gives you strength and does not take away. Best wishes,
Chernysheva Ulyana. Consultations with a psychologist on Skype and in Moscow
Signs of mental health problems after an abortion
As stated above, the link between depression, other mental health problems and abortion has been refuted by research. But they also confirm that women who have previously had such disorders will continue to experience them after termination of pregnancy. As a result, there is a chance that some possible symptoms will appear.
Signs of depression after a pregnancy loss are actually closer to “post-traumatic stress syndrome” than actual depression. Since a woman may perceive an event as traumatic, along with a depressed state, symptoms of depression may also occur at certain moments. These include:
- Sadness at the sight of a child
- Increased depression as the anniversary of the abortion approaches
- Anxiety when visiting the doctor's office or hospital
- Sadness on the eve of the expected due date
- Anxiety when hearing a child cry
- Nightmares or even happy dreams about children
- Insomnia
- Jealous feelings towards pregnant friends and family
- Desire to get pregnant again to “replace” the child
- Strong memories of abortion
- Avoidance of emotions associated with abortion
- Anger at yourself or a partner
- Guilt, shame and isolation
- Eating disorders or distorted body image
- Increased reflexive fear of devices that create the same noise as abortion devices
- Before and after an abortion, you may think about yourself while looking at images of the fetus at certain dates
- Relationship problems
- Difficulty communicating with children
- Fear that something will go wrong in a planned subsequent pregnancy
- Sexual dysfunction
Depending on how the abortion process went, there may be many other symptoms. Hormonal changes also play a role.
Emotional changes after an abortion usually don't last long, so if you experience any symptoms for longer than a few weeks, you may have actual clinical depression. 8
Spiritual support
According to statistics, believers endure stress more easily and recover from grief faster. Why this happens is not difficult to explain. A believer has God, who gives him hope. A Christian has someone to trust in and to whom to pour out his soul. Communication with God in prayer and reading the Bible acts like a balm on the heart, healing it and sending new strength. A believer knows that everything that happens in his life is not in vain, everything has a meaning, even in such a terrible tragedy as the loss of a child. And most importantly, a Christian knows that God loves him and sends everything in his life only for his good. Believers have spiritual teachers who can come to the rescue in time. Such mentors know what to say to the suffering person, how to console him. A kind word spoken with love and sympathy can cheer up a discouraged person and ease his mental pain. Believing friends and family also provide invaluable support to the suffering woman, praying for her and comforting her. Spiritual illness requires spiritual medicine. Those who have felt the effect of prayers in their lives will agree that there is hardly a better remedy for a sick soul. A grieving Christian tries to make the best of everything that happens to him. The Bible writes about people who trust in God: “... passing through the valley of mourning, they open springs in it” (Ps. 84:7). A believer knows that trials in his life can be a source of blessing. A woman who has suffered the loss of a child can begin to help others who are also suffering by empathizing with them, supporting them and praying for them.
How common is depression after abortion?
In fact, women rarely become completely clinically depressed after an abortion. It's a good news. You may experience some mild symptoms of the symptoms described above and be fine. Statistics show that about 5-30% of women who have had an abortion experience relatively mild feelings of depression, anxiety, guilt and regret. 8
[approx. ed. – it was not possible to find a more reliable source of statistics]
Risk factors for developing clinical depression after an abortion include a history of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and/or anxiety, as well as having a lot of stress in your life. If you have any lingering symptoms, thoughts of harm to yourself, or loss of ability to perform normal daily activities, you may need medical treatment.
Dealing with depression after an abortion
If you really think that you have clinical depression after an abortion, then you need to seek help. Here are some tips to help you deal with your feelings:
Talk about it
Find a friend, support group or counselor to talk about your experiences. It's time to let go of your secret from the depths of your soul. It's clear that this is a sad topic for you, but talking about it with someone you trust will be the start of the healing process. Some hospitals have support groups or counselors who can help you.
Don't beat yourself up over your choices.
Try not to succumb to feelings of guilt. Don't punish yourself for a decision you should have made. Don't let legal, religious, or political views make you feel like you've done something wrong. You did what was right for you, not what was right for everyone else. Stand your ground that it was your decision, and for you it was the only right one.
