A ray of light.
The truth is, there isn’t a reset button after an abortion. A person who has gone through an abortion will find themselves grappling with a range of unexpected physical, emotional and social challenges. From subtle bodily changes to profound psychological shifts, the ripple effects can touch every aspect of life.
Physical effects of abortion
Bleeding/spotting for 1-2 weeks
Stomach cramps
Fatigue and weakness
Breast tenderness
Possible potential complications
Infection
Heavy bleeding
Incomplete abortion requiring further medical intervention
Emotional & psychological impact
Common emotional responses include: sadness, guilt, anger, anxiety, confusion, emotional numbness
Decreased self-worth
Feelings of shame or inadequacy
Potential post-abortion stress syndrome (PASS)
Personally, I experienced minimal physical side-effects from the procedure. Instead, I found myself grappling with the emotional and psychological impact, which lingered long after. The pain of my decision still weighs me down to this day.
For the first two months after it happened, I remained silent about my experience. My parents noticed I was distant and began asking questions. Their innocent concern only intensified the tension at home, leading to more disagreements and fights, all fuelled by the secret I felt I had to keep.
Moving forward
Then, the school year began. I knew I couldn’t allow this to continue taking control of my life. I had to make a choice for myself — I could either dwell in sadness or harness it to fuel my journey ahead.
Determined to take that first step toward healing, I decided I would first have to verbalise what had happened.. I reached out to my best friend and asked if we could meet.
My best friend was incredibly empathetic and supportive. She reassured me that I could always turn to her, and if I had confided in her sooner, she would have been more than willing to stand by me every step of the way. Perhaps if I had the resolve to seek help earlier, I would have been able to make a more informed decision.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell anyone else including my parents. I don’t know if that abortion would implicate my future relationships. I don’t know if things would have turned out better if I didn’t have the abortion. Regardless, I was glad that I had the courage to open up that day. It marked the beginning of my journey towards healing and moving on.
1 year later
I received a message from my best friend: “girl… it came out positive.”
Comments