Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) – How At Risk Are You?
Up to 70% of women who have had an abortion fall into high risk for PAS. PAS is a type of post-traumatic stress and is defined as the stress reaction experienced by women after having an abortion.
The following are factors that can determine how severely a woman experiences PAS symptoms:
- A crisis surrounding pregnancy
- The urgency in making an abortion decision
- An obligation to keep your pregnancy secret
- Denial in recognizing your loss
- Moral beliefs
- Prior emotional or psychological problems
- Lack of social support
- Prior abortions
A woman experiencing PAS may try to ignore her feelings, become reclusive or begin using substances. Symptoms and feelings connected with PAS include guilt, anger, remorse, depression, suicidal thoughts or attempts, flashbacks to abortion.
YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT SCORE – Rate your risk by answering YES or NO to the following questions:
- Are you single?
- Are you 18 or younger?
- Are you in your second or third trimester?
- Is making an abortion decision difficult for you?
- Are you worried that your family or friends might find out that you’re pregnant?
- Do you feel pressured by someone to have an abortion?
- Do you feel pressured by your circumstances to have an abortion?
- Do you have any existing emotional or psychiatric problems?
- Have you previously had emotional or psychiatric problems?
- Do you have any unresolved trauma or grief?
- Have you ever been sexually assaulted or abused?
- Do you lack support from family or friends?
- Do you believe abortion is wrong?
- Do you feel rushed to have an abortion?
If you answered YES to two or more questions, you are at risk for experiencing Post Abortion Syndrome. Call a trusted counselor or visit Clearway today to help you through the decision making process or to heal from a past abortion that has caused you to experience PAS.
