Abortion Recovery

"A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping.
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,
because her children are no more." Jer. 31:15

“A woman doesn’t want an abortion like she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche, but like an animal caught in a trap who gnaws off it’s own leg...”

Abortion Recovery – Post-abortion stress (or syndrome), or PAS, is a very real form of post-traumatic stress disorder. The process of making an abortion choice, experiencing the procedure and living with the grief, pain and regret is certainly, at it’s very core, traumatic. As with any trauma, individuals often try to “forget” the ordeal and deny or ignore any pain that may result after an abortion.

Many simply don’t relate their distress to the abortion experience. At some point, however, memories resurface and the truth of this loss can no longer be denied. During these moments, the pain of post-abortion syndrome reveals itself in the hearts of millions of lives. Yet few women confess this sin – especially to family and friends. They limp along emotionally attempting to deal with the grief and guilt alone. But healing doesn’t occur independent of God. Westover is committed to helping women heal from the trauma of abortion, partnering with the Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center to provide biblical counseling to women in need.

Possible Symptoms (Immediate or delayed)
Guilt • Anger • Sorrow
Life defined by: “before”/“after” abortion • Resentful toward others
Avoiding relationships • Clingy • Overly dependent • Overly protective of children
Use drugs/alcohol • Eating disorders • Emptiness • Sense or loss • Depression
Nightmares • Flashbacks • Worried about future pregnancy

• 1/2 of all American women will experience an unexpected pregnancy by age 45, and approximately 1/3 of them will abort.
• 47% of women who have an abortion will have had one previous abortion.
• 61% will experience flashbacks
• 33% will have anniversary reactions
• 33% will feel suicidal
• 78% will have feelings of diminished control of their lives
• 52% experience difficulty developing and maintaining relationships
• 49% begin or increase drug use

The statistics are the SAME for Christian women as for unchurched women.

Great Resources for Healing And Education
I’ll Hold you in Heaven - Jack Hayford
Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion - Theresa Burke
www.Ramahinternational.org
Forgiven and Set Free - Linda Cochrane
Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion - Sydna Masse

Contact Info:
Caralynn Vaughn 299-7374 x3055, or cvaughn@westoverchurch.com