Pregnancy Support

Post-Abortion Stress Checklist

The following list has been designed to help you identify symptoms in your life that may be related to a past abortion experience.

Abortion can be a traumatic experience. The following list has been designed to help you identify symptoms in your life that may be related to a past abortion experience. Some of these symptoms may pertain to you:

  • Sadness
  • Feelings of loss
  • Guilt
  • Regret
  • Recurring thoughts about the abortion(s)
  • Crying episodes
  • Anxiety
  • Inability to sustain an intimate relationship
  • Preoccupation with anniversaries, i.e., date of the abortion(s) or due date(s)
  • Obsession with children or childbearing issues
  • Avoidance of small children and babies
  • Increased alcohol use
  • Drug abuse
  • Repeat abortions
  • Multiple sexual relationships
  • Engaging in any of the following to excess: school, work, exercise, eating, or dieting
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Feelings of numbness
  • Lack of self-esteem
  • Suicidal impulses
  • Desire for secrecy about the abortion
  • Disinterest in sex

If you are experiencing symptoms from this list and would like to talk with a trained, non-judgmental counselor in a confidential environment, please call Pathways of Pella at 641-628-4827 or 1-800-395-HELP or come in during our office hours (listed below).