Having an abortion can be an emotional experience for many women. While some women feel immediate relief after an abortion, others may experience difficult emotions like guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, and more. 

Whatever you’re feeling right now, it’s important to know that it’s understandable and that emotional recovery is possible. 

This article will highlight the steps you can take to move toward emotional recovery after an abortion. However, if you’re looking for a safe space to talk where people understand what you’re going through, contact us today. All appointments and resources are no-cost and confidential. 

Get Your Feelings Out

When emotions stay bottled up, they become like contents under pressure—the more you hold them in, the more they threaten to explode and spill out into every area of your life.

However, when you get your feelings out, it’s like giving that pressure a safe release valve. You can do this in two ways:

  • Journaling. This is a safe, private way to work through your feelings without fear of judgment. When you journal, you don’t need to worry about how something sounds. Instead, it’s all about moving your feelings and emotions from your head onto the paper. By doing so, you will begin to understand what you’re feeling and why—and what will help you feel better.
  • Talk to someone you trust. Another way to get your feelings out is to talk with someone you trust. When choosing someone to talk to, ensure that they are someone who won’t judge what you’re saying but will instead give you the space to explore what you’re feeling.

Prioritize Your Well-Being

As cliche as it might sound, exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep are all important ways to feel better—inside and out. 

When you’re going through an emotionally difficult time, pursuing these activities might feel like the last thing you want to do, but it’s worth it. Even if you can only manage small steps at a time, you will feel better with every step you put forward.

Reach Out for Help 

At The Hope Clinic, we offer confidential non-judgmental options-based healing for women, men, and family members. You can meet one-on-one with a caring peer advocate. We are here to listen and provide resources to encourage healing after abortion.

You are not alone in this. Contact us today to get started. We’re here to help.

*All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.