You might be familiar with the physical side effects of an abortion, but did you know it can also affect you emotionally?
If you are considering abortion, learning how the procedure could impact your emotional and mental health can help you create a better recovery plan.
Here’s what you need to know.
How Abortion Impacts Mental Health
A study conducted by the American Psychological Association Task Force revealed a correlation between abortion and negative mental health impacts.
The report concluded that one is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness. Cases of mental illness may vary, but women may experience feelings of sadness, grief, anxiety, or even depression following one.
Risks of Depression
When a pregnancy ends, either by natural miscarriage or by abortion, it triggers significant hormonal shifts within the body. These changes in hormonal activity are what can lead to depression.
A psychiatry professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that within her study of 2,823 women who experienced pregnancy loss, 15 percent also reported clinical depression or anxiety up to three years after their loss.
Signs of depression can include anger, shame, loss of self-esteem, loneliness, sleep problems, or thoughts of suicide.
Women who experience suicidal thoughts following an abortion should contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Help is available 24/7 to whoever needs support.
Making a Winning Plan
Heart of the Hills offers women a friendly, confidential environment to ask questions and get honest answers. Are you questioning whether abortion is right for you? Do you know about your options?
Make an appointment online today and make a plan to get your future back on track.
