Be eager to learn and to realize that everyone is at a different place on their emotional and spiritual journey. The average psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or counselor of any other academic stripe who does not understand post-abortion issues can often inflict more harm than good on the unsuspecting woman. Abortion causes trauma. Lindsay Christensen and Laurie Haynes, both of whom serve in leadership roles at pregnancy resource centers, share powerful stories from their ministry to post-abortive women and men, offering encouragement and hope to listeners who may be struggling with the emotional anguish of a past abortion. The Crucial Role of Men Standing for LifeRecognizing that behind every abortion, there’s a man involved, Stephen Arterburn offers hope to post-abortive men as he describes how he found God’s forgiveness amidst the guilt of coercing a past girlfriend to have an abortion. Whether the abortion happened years ago or recently, your pain is still valid and acknowledged. But there is hope! Have Focus on the Family resources helped you or your family? With a small class size and compassionate support, you will find the courage to face the pain of a previous abortion (or abortions), no matter how … Find Healing From a Past Abortion. Please contact ministry services for further assistance at This email address is being protected from spambots. SaveOne can help you through the healing process. Focus on the Family’s Christian Counselors Network, Referrals for Post-Abortion Ministries and Training, If you or someone you know needs help and support after an abortion, there are many excellent online resources available at. Pat also discusses her ministry to post-abortive women and dismantles the cultural lie that “abortion hurts no one.”. Thirty-three percent of American women have an abortion at some point, but hardly any of them ever talk about it. Teaching on the love, mercy and grace of God should also be included so that healthy reconciliation can occur. How Abortion Impacts MenRadio host and counselor Stephen Arterburn candidly shares how he pressured his college girlfriend into getting an abortion, and how the guilt and shame haunted him until he learned to fully accept God’s abounding grace. Are you struggling from the feelings of guilt and pain over a past abortion? I thought I’d get over it quickly and move on with my life, but my remorse and regret have only gotten worse over the years. That could mean abandoning friendships and family, particularly if they remind them of the abortion experience. Dealing With the Trauma of a Past AbortionMany women who choose abortion struggle with guilt – guilt that stops them from talking about it or getting the emotional help they deserve. Focus on the Family's Christian Counselors Network. Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS) is the condition occurring in both men and women after the abortion experience due to unresolved psychological and spiritual issues. God Heals! Teaching on the love, mercy and grace of God should also be included so that healthy reconciliation can occur. Abortion recovery programs should address the following to help participants heal from an abortion experience; grief, guilt, anger, depression, fear, un-forgiveness, shame and defense mechanisms. Have a desire to serve and minister to others (not looking for recognition or for fulfillment of personal needs). But I’m happy to say that in Jesus Christ I’ve found joy in being released from that burden and forgiven for my past mistakes. We offer an abortion recovery program that has given hope and provided emotional healing to many women. Abortion recovery programs should address the following to help participants heal from an abortion experience; grief, guilt, anger, depression, fear, un-forgiveness, shame and defense mechanisms. (Part 2 of 2), Melissa Ohden, the survivor of a failed abortion attempt, shares her incredible story about the power of love and forgiveness as she relates how God’s grace enabled her to build relationships with her mother and other family members. “The Good News is, there is hope and healing after abortion. Every Abortion Involves at Least One ManStephen Arterburn went to college to get a Christian education, but what happened is that he got a girl pregnant – and pressured her to have an abortion. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Finding Healing and Hope After an Abortion, Part 1 & Part 2, with Patricia LaytonAuthor and speaker Patricia Layton describes how God has helped her find emotional and psychological healing after an abortion she had when she was younger, offering encouragement and hope to women who are struggling with similar pain. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. But healing is possible. This 10-week class helps men and women emotionally and spiritually process their struggles following an abortion. Our Post-Abortion Recovery group is designed to help you heal. The Robertsons explore the topic of forgiveness, and Lisa offers compassion to women struggling with a past abortion, encouraging them to seek hope and healing from God. You are not alone or outside of God’s love and redemptive care. But generally, I encourage you to take the time to find one of the growing numbers of professional therapists and experienced lay counselors who have received special training in post-abortion healing.". var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; National Helpline for Abortion Recovery National Helpline for Abortion Recovery provides confidential nonjudgmental care 24/7 for those needing help after abortion. Abortion Recovery helps individuals overcome the emotional trauma and spiritual issues that can be experienced after having an abortion. So abortion recovery programs to reach male hearts are still few and far between. Patterns of long-term emotional disorder include: depression, grief, anxiety, helplessness, despair, sorrow, lowered self-esteem, distrust, hostility, dependency on alcohol/chemicals/food/work, guilt, sexuality problems, self-condemnation, weeping, emptiness, distrust, frustration, insomnia, nightmares, dysfunctional relationships, flashbacks, anger, fear of rejection, bitterness, un-forgiveness, fear of commitment, and the inability to form close relationships. Post Abortion Recovery By PCS - 03/09/2017 An abortion is a very personal decision, and something that we do not freely speak to others about, rather, we tend to internalize the abortion experience and what it means to us. Abortion creates trauma. Talking With Your Spouse About an Abortion in Your Past. For the last thirty-seven years I have suppressed all aspects of having chosen abortion three times in my life. I struggled with guilt, shame, and remorse for a long time. . Abortion Recovery helps individuals overcome the emotional trauma and spiritual issues experienced after an abortion. Understand the regret of abortion touches people deeply – emotionally and spiritually. Abortion has a deep ripple effect. Your story is your own and you deserve to explore it and find answers and healing for the pain you feel. In our post abortion ministry you will discover that you are not alone, as you meet with a trained facilitator who has faced the same pain and found freedom. Wonderful people with huge hearts! Each chapter features a compelling personal story coupled with relevant biblical teaching and application. Our post abortion recovery program is designed to help you through relief and denial, anger, forgiveness (of yourself and others), depression, letting go, and acceptance. All materials are provided at no cost, and childcare is available. Don’t Deny Your GriefIt’s hard to see it through the pain of losing a baby, but denying or glossing over your grief doesn’t allow you to remember him or her with love. Nothing rattles me more than when abortion recovery programs openly DISCRIMINATE and REJECT God’s anointed people simply because they have never experienced abortion. Blessings from, Georgette, Janet Co-Founders – Silent No More Awareness Campaign Kevin Burke, LSW Pastoral Associate If you are post-abortive, here are five steps to begin healing any pain that may reside in your heart: Understand you are not the only one that chose abortion and that peace is possible– Abortion providers outline that 1 in 3 American women have experienced abortion. Be able to create a healthy balance between caring for the group members and limitsof responsibility for someone else’s actions. It is dedicated to providing comfort, healing and hope to women who have had an abortion in their past. Document all aspects of the post-abortion experience to provide comfort, education, resources, hope and Godly inspiration to those considering or navigating life after abortion, Directly assist those considering abortion or struggling with Abortion PTSD through direct communication, helpful resources and local referrals, We offer eight-week confidential recovery programs for any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional and spiritual pain of an abortion. Immediately following an abortion, you may feel a sense of relief that the pregnancy has ended. Be forgiven and set free from the wounds of abortion. Because of Christ, today she knows full freedom. You may have chosen abortion personally, lost a child to abortion, or your life has been profoundly affected by abortion. If you have a heart for the ministry of abortion recovery, then you share the Lord’s desire to see women and men healed and restored from an abortion experience. Understanding a Post-Abortal FriendWhy won’t my friend talk about her abortion? A must for post-abortive women, their friends and family, pregnancy center counselors and other who seek to help. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Overcoming Rejection to Live in God’s Love, with Lisa TerKeurstLysa TerKeurst shares transparently on what rejection has felt like in her own life from an emotionally absent father, to an unwanted pregnancy which led her to abortion. Post Abortion Community Services offers a comprehensive education and training program. Certainly, if your thoughts and feelings become so overwhelming that you feel you can no longer cope, seek professional assistance immediately. Men: Moving Past the Pain of AbortionWomen aren’t alone in dealing with the guilt and grief that follows an abortion. Fatherhood Lost: Abortion’s Lasting Impact on Men, Part 1 and Part 2Kurt Ramspott and Aaron LeCave discuss the often-overlooked impact of abortion on men and offer hope and encouragement to those who wrestle with grief and guilt over a past abortion. This program is absolutely amazing and if I could give it 5 stars I most certainly would. And it’s especially difficult when the changes we’re faced with are unwanted: the death of a loved one, a child leaving home, an illness, a frustrated dream. Passages of Hope, an abortion recovery outreach of New Life Solutions, offers a 9-week Bible Study Support Group (women-only and men-only) for healing, hope, and wholeness. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be experiencing pain related to your abortion, many times referred to as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to abortion. www.abortionhurtsgodheals.com Choose Grace International www.choosegrace.com 804-835-6505 … Others suspect the abortion could have mutilated their body in some way. Post-Abortive Woman Wants to Help Others Overcome GuiltWhat can I do to help other women discover freedom from the emotional and psychological aftermath of an abortion? If you’re struggling and need someone to talk to, Focus on the Family offers a. Abortions are common in the United States, with an average of 3 out of 10 women in the United States having an abortion by age 45. Abortion is the dark secret no one wants to talk about. PAS is actually a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a commonly recognized condition that often follows traumatizing events such as witnessing an act of violence or experiencing a natural disaster.