Americans are in a “mental health crisis,” according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Struggling with your mental health can affect everything you do, and we’re sorry you are having problems.
Research shows that women who have had an abortion struggle more with their emotional and mental health than women who haven’t had one. Let’s take a closer look at how it could affect you.
Is There a Connection Between Abortion and Mental Health?
The above study states that “the abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for at least some women,” and those with a “pre-existing mental illness” are at greatest risk. Other factors, such as pressure to abort, increase the mental health struggle.
Although many women report feeling relieved immediately after their abortions, those feelings can change. It can start within weeks or months or stay buried for years. Some women feel everything from sadness and grief to experiencing anxiety and depression.
How Will I Respond?
No one can say how you will respond to your abortion. The experience is different for every woman. However, if you are struggling with your mental health, you may want to consider other alternatives. You have two other options: making an adoption plan or parenting.
Making an Adoption Plan
Although not an easy choice, adoption allows you to give your child a loving, stable home life in a two-parent home. As the expectant mother, you choose the potential adoptive family and the amount of contact you wish to have with them as your child grows.
If you work with a reputable adoption coordinator, they take care of your medical and legal expenses. Other pregnancy-related costs may be taken care of, too. Embrace offers several referrals for adoption professionals.
Choosing to Parent
Facing an unplanned pregnancy when this was not the time you wanted to parent can be a challenge, but it isn’t impossible. You need the support of others, and the Embrace team is ready to assist you.
Embrace provides no-cost parenting classes to help get you prepared. We also offer material support to supply you with essential baby items.
How Else Can Embrace Assist Me?
If you choose to have an abortion and struggle with your decision, help is available. Please email Stacia at sfrasco@embracewichita.org for more information. Embrace is here for you no matter what you choose.
An unplanned pregnancy is overwhelming, and Embrace understands how you can be affected physically as well as emotionally. If you give birth and do not know what to do, there are safe places to relinquish your baby without question. You can leave your baby at the hospital or take them to the nearest Fire or Police Station.
The Embrace team cares about your physical and mental health. You are not alone. Fill out our confidential online contact form, or call or text us. Embrace also has an after-hours text line. Reach out today to Embrace.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.