Healing and support after abortion

STEPS TOWARDS HEALING

1. Recognise that the road to full recovery can take time and effort. God's forgiveness can be had instantly, but sorting out your life and your feelings, overcoming the ever-present temptation to give in again to despair and doubt, these take time.

2. Recognise that it is normal and good to mourn the loss of a loved one. Just as mourning the loss of a parent or spouse takes time, so does mourning the loss of an aborted child. In the case of abortion, the mourning process is often cut short and never completed because of denial or feelings of guilt which block the mourning process. You must courageously allow the mourning process to get back on track. Accept your grief as normal rather than something which must be covered up or pushed away. Recognise that the pain of your loss will fade as your healing progresses.

3. Recognise that you are not alone. Others have been through the same experience and the same trials. Their experiences and understanding can help you. They want to help you, just as you may want to help others after you have finished going through the healing process. Finding a post-abortion counselor or support group through our list of Post-Abortion Healing Resources may be very helpful to you.

4. Admit your personal responsibility but also recognise that others, too, were involved. For many women it helps to pray for God's forgiveness for both yourself and everyone else who either encouraged the abortion or failed to help you avoid the abortion.

5. Forgive others. Recognise that they, too, acted out of ignorance, fear, or petty human selfishness. If possible, let them know that you forgive them. Forgive even the abortion providers.

Support groups

Women Hurt - Tel: Grace 01 8214205

"The group brought me back from lonliness and isolation. I was saved from self-hatred and self-punishment. The group has shown me love and compassion. For the first time I could face my abortion and not feel devastated. My broken life was healed and made stronger. Fear, guilt, anger and self-hatred were replaced by love, acceptance peace and self love"
Caroline

Rachel's Vineyard
www.rachelsvineyard.ie
Tel Bernadette : 087 8592877

British Victims of Abortion
Olympic House, 142 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3BU
00 44 141 226 5407     

National Office of Post Abortion Reconciliation and Healing
3501 S. Lake Drive, PO Box 07477, Milwaukee, WI 53207 - 0477, USA
www.marquette.edu/rachel

The Elliot Institute
PO Box 7348, Springfield, Il 62791, USA
www.afterabortion.org