Are you depressed, having trouble sleeping, or overly anxious? You may be suffering from Post-Abortion Syndrome.

Post-Abortion Syndrome is like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It occurs when a woman is unable to work through the grieving process after an abortion.

LivingWell cares for women, especially those who face extremely difficult circumstances. Although we cannot support abortion, we do make ourselves available to help women who chose or have chosen abortion in the past.

Throughout the year LivingWell offers Post-Abortion Counseling Education (PACE) Sessions for women seeking healing. If you, or someone you know is interested in joining a session, please contact us at:

2010 N,Tustin, Suite D
Orange, CA 92865
Hotline [714] 633-HOPE
cgagnier@living-well.org

FAQ:

Why does abortion cause distress?
People are often surprised to find that abortion can be a traumatic experience. Generally, women are not encouraged to share their responses to an abortion. Often it is kept private and a woman is alone with her feelings. The grief a woman may experience after an abortion is seldom recognized and is often repressed or denied. Our society is just now beginning to recognize the need to grieve a miscarriage, but because abortion is considered a voluntary act, a woman's grief after an abortion is not understood or supported.

When do symptoms of PAS occur?
Some women experience PAS symptoms within months of the abortion. For others, the crises occurs two to five years after the abortion - at the time the normal grieving process would have been completed. Sometimes women don't experience PAS symptoms for 10, 20 or 30 years, because for a time they are able to repress the deep emotions caused by the abortion.

• Anxiety
• Regret/Guilt
• Sadness/Sorrow
• Feelings of loss
• Repeat abortions
• Desire for secrecy about abortion
• Emotional pain
• Nightmares
• Anger/Rage
• Suicidal impulses
• Self destructive behavior
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Inability to sustain an intimate relationship

How can a woman recover from Post-Abortion Syndrome?
A woman who is experiencing PAS needs to complete the natural grieving process. This can be done in individual counseling or group therapy.

Additional Links
Westside Pregnancy Resource Center
www.w-cpc.org/post-abortion
This site shares about the effects of abortion and also gives about 20 personal testimonies about women who have had abortions.

Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center
http://www.lifechoices.org
This site shares about the effects of abortion, offers personal stories, and steps for healing.