Are you struggling with mental health challenges after an abortion? If you’re experiencing depression, anxiety, regret, shame, or other difficult feelings after an abortion—whether days, weeks or even years ago—you’re not alone. And help is available.
You can take steps toward healing. If you’d like to talk to someone in person and discover healing and recovery resources, contact Cherish Women’s Resource Centre today. All appointments and services are no-cost and confidential.
Get Your Feelings Out in the Open
When you keep your feelings bottled up, they can start to become like a shaken soda—the pressure builds and builds until you feel like you might explode. But when you get your feelings out in the open, it creates a release valve for that pressure.
Talk to Someone You Trust
One way to get your feelings out is to talk to someone you trust. After an abortion, many women feel too ashamed to talk about their experiences, which leads to them keeping their emotional turmoil hidden. But talking to someone and getting your experience and feelings out in the open allows you to work through them.
When choosing someone to talk to, pick someone who will listen without judgment. If you don’t have a friend or relative in your life who fits this description, a counselor or support group are good options. At Cherish Women’s Resource Centre, we offer a safe space to discuss your emotions and thoughts.
Journal
If you aren’t quite ready to talk to someone, journaling about your thoughts and experience is a good first step. Journaling is simply the act of writing your emotions down on paper, and it allows you to untangle everything that’s going on in your mind.
Sitting down to a blank sheet of paper can be intimidating, so it can help to use the following questions to get started:
- What emotions have I been struggling with the most lately?
- What makes these feelings worse?
- Is there anything that makes them better?
- What would healing from my abortion experience look like?
We're Here for You
The emotional pain that can follow an abortion might make you feel overwhelmed, but you’re not alone in this.
Our caring team is here to help you understand what you’re going through—and give you the support and resources you need to overcome this pain. Our Post-Abortive Recovery (PAR) program is strictly confidential and is available one-on-one or in a small group format. You’ll receive the tools you need to find healing.
It’s possible to live a joyful and peaceful life again. Talk to us today.
