Post-Abortion Stress (PAS) results from the unresolved grief and trauma caused by abortion. At the Abel Center you will find peer counselors who are willing to come along side of you as you begin to face the pain of your past.  

One of the tools we use in addition to one on one peer counseling to help women grieve and heal after an abortion is studies based on the biblical principals of forgiveness and healing. One such study is called Forgiven and Set Free by Linda Cochrane. 

Linda Cochrane, herself post abortive, writing from her own experience and the experiences of many other post-abortive women she has known, she says that …

 “Relief is the first stage of grieving after an abortion. In this stage a woman may think, Thank God, I’m not pregnant anymore. All The uncertainty of the previous weeks are now over and I feel relieved.”

 “After a short time, the initial feelings of relief wear off, and when her mind goes back to the actual experience, denial begins. It is difficult to cope with the memories of the abortion experience. The woman tries to deny that the abortion killed her child. She may think, No, I wouldn’t murder a baby. I just terminated a pregnancy, or it wasn’t really a baby at that stage, it was a blob of tissue”

 “Moving out of denial usually happens over a period of years and is a different process for each individual. For some women denial ends when they see pictures of fetal development…Other women confront their loss when they carry a wanted pregnancy… Many women come to see the truth of their actions when they stop running from God and begin to seek Him with all their heart.”

 “Once out of denial, many women become angry. These women finally realize that they cannot change their past not can they change others. They can, however, change their response to their hurt and anger. Women can then choose to forgive unconditionally and make room in their lives for love.”

“Another stage of grieving my be depression… It is in this stage that harmful behavior such as excessive drug and alcohol use or suicidal tendencies are seen. Some women experience and unconscious need to punish themselves…Through these behaviors women attempt to ease their pain of guilt but fail to do so.”

 “The final stage of grieving is acceptance…At this point women have forgiven those who hurt them and have accepted God’s forgiveness…They have a deeper understanding of God’s plan for their lives and see how this painful process of grieving fits into His plan.

Women are helped by being able to grieve. Here is what a woman had to say following her experience of talking with someone at the Abel Center about her abortion experience: 

“Abortion seems to be the only thing you can’t talk about today. It was a relief to have someone at the Abel Center help me deal with this secret and learn forgiveness”…anonymous client

You too can recover from your spiritual and emotional pain...

We offer one-on one peer counseling to anyone that has had an abortion. Within this context you are given the opportunity to uncover your pain, be cared for by someone who understands and be guided toward emotional and spiritual healing. This service is confidential and free. 

You can reach someone at the Center and tell them of your interest in talking to someone about your past abortion by calling: 

(304) 325-8694 or (800) 705-1196

E-mail: abelcenter@frontiernet.net

use our Contact  page

 It may take courage to call; please do.

He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love.

                                                     Psalm 107:14-15

 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

                                                               John 8:36