Do you still struggle with the pain of a past abortion? Whether it's been 2 months or 32 years, God stands ready to heal your soul. You may be suffering from what is known as post abortion syndrome.

You're not alone. I've talked to women who had abortions and have said to me "I think about it every day." One woman told me she had been alone in the delivery room after a saline abortion. After 20 years, she was still troubled by delivering that lost little girl.

One woman said "I don't think you can ever get over something like that." Can you relate?

You're not alone - 45 million women are there with you. There's hope and there's help.

Abortion Recovery Programs

Abortion recovery programs are available all over the country and these resources are growing each month in churches, homes and communities all over the world.

Many crisis pregnancy centers offer abortion recovery programs. While it may seem uncomfortable to go to a "pregnancy" center to talk about a past abortion, don't worry. You won't be judged. They truly want to help you find healing from the pain that you carry. Many women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy have already had at least one abortion -- the staff at the pregnancy center understands your suffering. They want to help.

To find a program in your area, visit www.abortionrecovery.org

Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS)

For women and men who've participated in an abortion, the experience can trouble them for years - sometimes decades. Currently, the American Psychiatric Association does not recognize a well-documented emotional and psychological response to abortion: Post Abortion Syndrome. (Also sometimes known as Post Abortion Trauma.)

Similar to post traumatic stress disorder, the guilt and burden of abortion can cause the following responses:

• abusive behavior
• alcohol and / or drug use
• avoids baby reminders (like baby showers, baby stores, etc.)
• changes in relationship / marriage (70% of relationships/marriages break up within 1 year of an abortion, 90% within 5 years)
• control issues
• crying spells
• difficulty in all types of intimacy
• divides time into "before" and "after" the abortion
• eating disorders
• fails to bond with subsequent children
• loss of interest in sex
• loss of normal sources of pleasure
• marital stress
• need of financial success
• over-protective of living children
• promiscuity or frigidity
• reduced motivation
• secretive
• self-punishing and / or self-degrading behavior
• sleep disturbances
• strained relationship with living children
• suicidal impulses
• tolerates abusive relationships
• wants atonement / replacement child
• withdrawn