HOPE AND HEALING
After an abortion, a woman typically experiences deep emotional and spiritual paina. Regardless of their role, men are also deeply affectedb by the experience of abortion.
Among the many Adverse Post-Abortion Psychological Outcomes Experienced by Some Women these are the most common:
Depression[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Anxiety[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms / Disorder (PTSD)[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
Suicidal Thinking[19] [20] [21] [22]
Alcohol & Substance Abuse[23] [24] [25] [26]
Isolation [34]
Sleep problems [38]
Relationship problems [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats offer a compassionate and transformative space where women and men can find the courage to confront past abortion pain, embrace forgiveness, and begin a powerful journey toward healing and renewal. Mental health counselors and ordained clergy, along with a compassionate retreat team, are there to affirm and support you.
Whether you are interested in healing by using faith-based resources or other means, we are happy to refer you to trained mental health professionals and clergy who can assist you on that journey.
[1] Thorp JM Jr, Hartmann KE, Shadigian E. Long-term physical and psychological health consequences of induced abortion: review of the evidence. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2003 Jan;58(1):67-79. doi: 10.1097/00006254-200301000-00023. PMID: 12544786.
[2] Sullins DP. Abortion, substance abuse and mental health in early adulthood: Thirteen-year longitudinal evidence from the United States. SAGE Open Med. 2016 Sep 23;4:2050312116665997. doi: 10.1177/2050312116665997. PMID: 27781096; PMCID: PMC5066584.
[3] Coleman PK. Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995-2009. Br J Psychiatry. 2011 Sep;199(3):180-6. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230. PMID: 21881096.
[4] Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ, Boden JM. Abortion and mental health disorders: evidence from a 30-year longitudinal study. Br J Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;193(6):444-51. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.056499. PMID: 19043144.
[5] Jacob L, Kostev K, Gerhard C, Kalder M. Relationship between induced abortion and the incidence of depression, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and somatoform disorder in Germany. J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Jul;114:75-79. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.04.022. Epub 2019 Apr 24. PMID: 31048110.
[6] Jacob et al., op. cit.
[7] Sullins, op. cit.
[8] Bellieni CV, Buonocore G. Abortion and subsequent mental health: Review of the literature. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2013 Jul;67(5):301-10. doi: 10.1111/pcn.12067. PMID: 23859662.
[9] Coleman, op. cit.
[10] Fergusson et al., op. cit.
[11] Gong X, Hao J, Tao F, Zhang J, Wang H, Xu R. Pregnancy loss and anxiety and depression during subsequent pregnancies: data from the C-ABC study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013 Jan;166(1):30-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.09.024. Epub 2012 Nov 10. PMID: 23146315.
[12] Broen AN, Moum T, Bødtker AS, Ekeberg O. The course of mental health after miscarriage and induced abortion: a longitudinal, five-year follow-up study. BMC Med. 2005 Dec 12;3:18. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-3-18. PMID: 16343341; PMCID: PMC1343574.
[13] Hamama L, Rauch SA, Sperlich M, Defever E, Seng JS. Previous experience of spontaneous or elective abortion and risk for posttraumatic stress and depression during subsequent pregnancy. Depress Anxiety. 2010 Aug;27(8):699-707. doi: 10.1002/da.20714. PMID: 20577979; PMCID: PMC2939862.
[14] Curley M, Johnston C. The characteristics and severity of psychological distress after abortion among university students. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2013 Jul;40(3):279-93. doi: 10.1007/s11414-013-9328-0. PMID: 23576135.
[15] Coleman PK, Coyle CT, Rue VM. Late-term elective abortion and susceptibility to posttraumatic stress symptoms. J Pregnancy. 2010;2010:130519. doi: 10.1155/2010/130519. Epub 2010 Aug 1. PMID: 21490737; PMCID: PMC3066627.
[16] Coleman PK, Coyle CT, Shuping M, Rue VM. Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders: isolating the effects of abortion in the national comorbidity survey. J Psychiatr Res. 2009 May;43(8):770-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2008.10.009. Epub 2008 Nov 28. Erratum in: J Psychiatr Res. 2011 Aug;45(8):1133-4. PMID: 19046750.
[17] Coyle CT, Coleman PK, & Rue VM. Inadequate preabortion counseling and decision conflict as predictors of subsequent relationship difficulties and psychological stress in men and women. Traumatology, 16(1), 16–30. doi.org/10.1177/1534765609347550
[18] Rue VM, Coleman PK, Rue JJ, Reardon DC. Induced abortion and traumatic stress: a preliminary comparison of American and Russian women. Med Sci Monit. 2004 Oct;10(10):SR5-16. Epub 2004 Sep 23. PMID: 15448616.
[19] Sullins, op. cit.
[20] Fergusson et al., op. cit.
[21] Gissler M, Karalis E, Ulander VM. Decreased suicide rate after induced abortion, after the Current Care Guidelines in Finland 1987-2012. Scand J Public Health. 2015 Feb;43(1):99-101. doi: 10.1177/1403494814560844. Epub 2014 Nov 24. PMID: 25420710.
[22] Lega I, Maraschini A, D'Aloja P, Andreozzi S, Spettoli D, Giangreco M, Vichi M, Loghi M, Donati S; Regional maternal mortality working group. Maternal suicide in Italy. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2020 Apr;23(2):199-206. doi: 10.1007/s00737-019-00977-1. Epub 2019 May 18. PMID: 31104119.
[23] Sullins, op. cit.
[24] Coleman, op. cit.
[25] Fergusson et al., op. cit.
[26] Reardon DC, Ney PG. Abortion and subsequent substance abuse. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2000 Feb;26(1):61-75. doi: 10.1081/ada-100100591. PMID: 10718164.
[27] Broen et al., op. cit.
[28] Kero A, Lalos A. Ambivalence--a logical response to legal abortion: a prospective study among women and men. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2000 Jun;21(2):81-91. doi: 10.3109/01674820009075613. PMID: 10994180.
[29] Prommanart N, Phatharayuttawat S, Boriboonhirunsarn D, Sunsaneevithayakul P. Maternal grief after abortion and related factors. J Med Assoc Thai. 2004 Nov;87(11):1275-80. PMID: 15825699.
[30] Casey PR. Abortion among young women and subsequent life outcomes. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2010 Aug;24(4):491-502. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2010.02.007. Epub 2010 Mar 20. PMID: 20303829.
[31] Broen et al., op. cit.
[32] Cockrill K, Upadhyay UD, Turan J, Greene Foster D. The stigma of having an abortion: development of a scale and characteristics of women experiencing abortion stigma. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2013 Jun;45(2):79-88. doi: 10.1363/4507913. Epub 2013 May 2. PMID: 23750622.
[33] Casey, op. cit.
[34] Cockrill et al., op cit.
[35] Curley and Johnston. Op. cit.
[36] Curley M, Johnston, C. Exploring treatment preferences for psychological services after abortion among college students. J of Repro & infant Psych 2014: 1-17. doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2013.879566
[37] Finlay L. The experience of ‘entrapped grief’ following traumatic abortion. Int J Integ Psychotherapy 2015, 6: 26-53.
[38] Reardon DC, Coleman PK. Relative treatment rates for sleep disorders and sleep disturbances following abortion and childbirth: a prospective record-based study. Sleep. 2006 Jan;29(1):105-6. doi: 10.1093/sleep/29.1.105. PMID: 16453987.
[39] Coleman PK, Rue VM, Spence M. Intrapersonal processes and post-abortion relationship challenges: A review and consolidation of relevant literature. Int J of Mental Health 2006, 4(2):1-19.
[40] Coleman PK, Rue VM, Spence M, Coyle, CT. Abortion and the sexual lives of men and women: Is casual sexual behavior more appealing and more common after abortion? Int J of Clin Health Psych 2008, 8(1): 77-91. ISSN 1697-2600.
[41] Coyle et al., op. cit.
[42] Coleman PK, Rue VM, Coyle CT. Induced abortion and intimate relationship quality in the Chicago Health and Social Life Survey. Public Health. 2009 Apr;123(4):331-8. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2009.01.005. Epub 2009 Mar 26. PMID: 19324381.
[43] Bagarozzi D. Post-traumatic stress disorders in women following abortion: some considerations and implications for marital/couple therapy. Int J Fam Marr 1993;1:51–68.
[44] Lauzon P, Roger-Achim D, Achim A, Boyer R. Emotional distress among couples involved in first-trimester induced abortions. Can Fam Physician. 2000 Oct;46:2033-40. PMID: 11072583; PMCID: PMC2145094.
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