If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering abortion, it’s critical to learn about the potential mental health effects to protect yourself.
Read on to learn about how abortion might affect you mentally and how to protect your health. Or, if you want to talk to someone about your pregnancy and options, contact First Choice Georgia Pregnancy Clinic today to be connected to one of our caring team members. All appointments and resources are free and confidential.
Mental Health Risks of Abortion
Abortion comes with risks to your mental health. According to a report by the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion (TFMHA), it’s evident that some women experience the following mental health risks after an abortion:
- Sadness
- Grief
- Feelings of loss
- Depression
- Anxiety
The report also discovered that two years after their abortions, 1.5% of the women participating in the study “had all the symptoms for abortion-specific post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”
Link Between Mental Health Risks and Feeling Pressured Into Abortion
If you feel at all pressured into having an abortion, you’re more likely to experience a mental health risk.
The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons found that almost 75% of women who had an abortion felt at least subtly pressured into getting one. And of these women who felt pressured into abortion, many suffered adverse mental health outcomes afterward, including feelings of:
- Shame
- Guilt
- Regret
- Self-hatred
- Worthlessness
- Being unworthy of love
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety
How to Protect Your Mental Health
Learning all you can about your pregnancy options—and deciding for yourself—is the most important way to protect your mental health.
At First Choice Georgia Pregnancy Clinic, we’re here to give you medically accurate information and free services to help you make an informed decision. While the choice is yours, we’re here to support you. You’re not alone in this. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential appointment.
