by Support After Abortion | Mar 25, 2022 | A New Movement, Blogs
Director of the Kentucky Right to Life, Addia Wuchner, discusses two key factors that will help change legislation and end the demand for abortion.
The first Addia discusses the Law of Informed Consent. Addia notes that healthcare was originally designed as to create and nourish a trusting relationship between patient and provider. Informed Consent would make it necessary and mandatory for all providers to review all risks and effects, both physical and mental, that come with making an abortion decision. Informed Consent would paint a realistic picture for men and women, and help them make a rational decision based on years of proven research. Addia states, “it is disrespectful and unethical to not give men and women informed consent on the entire decision if abortion.” Informed consent has been met with opposition from providers who think it is disrespectful to go over that information with men and women, because as the provider states, “she already knows what she is doing.”
According to Addia, there is a way to mitigate this barrier. In conjunction with the Law of Informed Consent, Addia encourages men and women who have been impacted by abortion to come forward and share their testimony. There is righteousness and judgment with lawmakers when making laws. They come with bias and religious background, and the words can become painful. Addia encourages men and women to come forward when they are ready, to help us change the dialogue and language to be more compassion driven.
As Addia states, “when we change the dialogue or language, and lead with compassion, we will change a culture.”
by Support After Abortion | Mar 25, 2022 | A New Movement, Blogs
Research shows that those impacted by abortion feel fear, quilt and shame. It is this fear, guilt and shame that prohibits men and women from coming forward for healing, and causes them to continue to silently suffer.
Michaelene discusses three things to always remember when interacting with those impacted by abortion so that more men and woman come forward for abortion healing. First, always keep in mind the number of people impacted by abortion. One in four women will have an abortion by the time she is 45. The impact of abortion is not limited to the woman but extends to the man, siblings, grandparents, friends, etc. This means that at any moment you could be speaking with someone impacted by abortion, so keeping this number in mind, will help keep your communication safe and approachable. Second, Michaelene urges everyone to “be humble, be present, without expectations and meet them where they are.”
Every person is unique and uniquely impacted. Grief, timeline process, suffering and coping are all unique to the individual, so being present with them will ensure the focus remains on them. Lastly, “magic words” do not exist. There is not a set of guidelines, or a phrase that is 100 percent effective. Rather than trying to find the perfect statement, listening and being present is extremely important to remember.
Michaelene also discusses communication tips that will help inspire compassion and help others feel comfortable coming forward for healing.
Some of her tips include, but are not limited too, being mindful of body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, accepting that we cannot force healing and accepting that there will be times we make mistakes.
by Support After Abortion | Mar 25, 2022 | A New Movement, Blogs
Greg Hasek discusses the impact early trauma has on a future abortion decision. He states,
“many women and men have experienced previous trauma as a child and that trauma has a direct impact on their ability to make a rational decision upon finding out they are or their partner is pregnant. Their response is often a limbic system response rooted in and often triggering past fears and attachment belief systems that are often unconscious. Rational prefrontal cortex kicks back in post abortion. As a result, feelings of regret hit. The relief stage is ever so brief for the limbic angst. Both men and women often ask, ‘How could I have done this?’’
There are two ways to intervene both in the present moment and in the future so that this response and trauma does not become generational. First, when someone has found out they are pregnant, their brain goes through a flight or fight response. The unplanned pregnancy is seen as a problem that needs to be solved. In this moment, people need to encourage the man or woman to breathe deeply to steady their heart rate.
Walking, listening to music or meditating are great ways to relax the body, which will relax the mind. Once the man or woman has had time to calm down, they can then make a rational decision.
Greg states that most trauma people experience in the first two years of their life. To make sure the pattern or trauma does not repeat itself through future generations, the ProLife movement can invest more in parenting programs and support those who are new parents. By investing in these programs, we are healing the parents and again stop the generational trauma that can occur.
by Support After Abortion | Mar 25, 2022 | A New Movement
Dr. Trandem lists the four risks of abortion: (1) Breast Cancer – there is a 40% increased risk of getting breast cancer in the future for those who have had an abortion, (2) uterine damage – heavy bleeding, hemorrhaging and permanent scarring can occur, (3) cervix damage – there is a 36% increased risk of pre-term birth in future pregnancies, and (4) mental health challenges – over 81% percent of women who have had an abortion may develop a lifetime chronic mental health disorder (depression, anxiety , panic disorder, etc.).
In her presentation, Dr. Trandem discusses what we need to combat the fourth risk of mental health challenges. How do we help those experiencing mental health challenges after an abortion?
Dr. Trandem states, “we need to fight with weapons of hope, faith, prayer and love.” By compassionately speaking to and showing love to those impacted by abortion, we can help them restore a sense of worthiness in themselves. People cannot expect those faced with an abortion decision to value human life when they do not value themselves. Those who are impacted from abortion, often carry wounds of trauma and feel unworthy. To end the demand for abortion, people need to be compassionate with their words, and be felt as a safe person to approach.
Dr. Trandem urges everyone to remember that those impacted by abortion, abortion providers, and pro-abortion supporters are hurt and if they could see they too are loved and valued, then everyone could engage on a different level and begin to establish common ground.
by Support After Abortion | Mar 25, 2022 | A New Movement
Robin Atkins, LMHC begins her presentation by discussing the APA’s stance on abortion. She states the APA should have been concerned with the psychological effects around abortion, however they gave into more of the ideology of abortion with statements such as, “abortion is necessary for poor women,” and also declaring adolescents have a “constitutional right to make decisions regarding their reproductive health.”
David Fergusson was the first one to step in and begin to refute the APA statements surrounding abortion and the impact surrounding that abortion. His research leans towards informing women of potential mental health outcomes when it comes to abortion, and states “there is evidence pointing in the direction of harmful effects.”
Shortly after, Coleman, provided a direct link between abortion and suicide. Her study shows there is 155% increase in suicidal behaviors among women impacted by abortion. This research was disputed by the abortion industry but was quickly defended by Fergusson.
There are several more studies that speak to the correlation between abortion and suicide:
- In 1995 – a study was done on women without any pre-existing psychological illness and 70 % of those women had an increase of risk of deliberate self harm after an abortion when compared to women who birth.
- In 1996 – a Finnish study was done that reported 34.7% of 100,000 women committed suicide after abortions (most within the first 2 months)
- In 2006 – Fergusson did another study that showed that there is a 4x greater risk for suicide after abortion when compared to never being pregnant. Additionally, there is a 3x greater risk for suicide after abortion when to women whom deliver,
- In 2010 – Another study showed a 59% increased risk in suicidal ideation, 5.8% of this number is directly attributed to abortion.
by Support After Abortion | Mar 25, 2022 | A New Movement
President of Heartbeat International, Jor-El Godsey, discusses the legalization of abortion and the rise of Pregnancy Health Centers beginning in the 1960s.
The 1960s brought the sexual revolution to the United States. In 1967, Colorado became the first state to legalize abortion, and in 1968, Toronto, Canada established the first pregnancy center which became the model for all pregnancy center service locations.
As everyone is aware, in 1973, abortion became a “constituitional right” with the Roe v Wade ruling. After Roe v Wade the ProLife Movement broke into three segments of specialization. First, public awareness, which publicized the truth of abortion. The second specialization was political, which is legislative and legal advocacy. Last, was direct service which involved helping women at risk for an abortion.
Perhaps the biggest decade for Pregnancy Health Centers, and abortion recovery research were the 1980s. Yes, the abortion industrialized, but Pregnancy Health Centers expanded exponentially, and in 1986, research began for abortion recovery and outreach.
In the 1990’s the number of annual abortions did peak, however in the United States, the number of Pregnancy Health Centers started to exceed abortion clinics. For every one abortion clinic, there are four pregnancy centers.
Jor-El encourages everyone to not stop here. The ProLife Movement needs to continue to adapt their outreach, messaging and nimbleness to remain effective and end the demand for abortion.
