The HEALING CHOICETwo psychotherapists present a supportive guide to coping with the emotional and psychological aftermath of abortion, offering a step-by-step program that combines information, reassurance, and guidance to help women begin the process of recovery. “This is a book for any women who feels psychological pain from her abortion…this is not a book about judgment, politics, or religion.” –from the authors’ introduction Few women can walk away from the experience of abortion without some lingering emotional discomfort. Unresolved feelings of guilt, shame, and sadness may not surface until months, often years, after an abortion. We may lead outwardly normal lives, but these emotions can continue to cast a shadow, having a negative impact on personal relationships, coloring our moral or religious beliefs, even causing anxiety when we deal with a planned pregnancy. These feelings, if ignored, can possibly manifest themselves in more troubling ways, resulting in unstable relationships, self-destructive and addictive behaviors, depression, and low self-esteem. Now, two experienced psychotherapists share their approach to dealing with sensitive and long-overlooked issue of post-abortion pain or trauma. The Healing Choice breaks the silence surrounding a topic often clouded by debate and focuses exclusively on helping women chart a path toward emotional recovery. Through a step-by-step process, complete with self-tests, exercises, and interviews with women who share their own post-abortion experiences, Dr. Candace De Puy and Dr. Dana Dovitch will help you come to terms with your post-abortion emotions and offer support as you begin the process of healing. |
Contents
13 | |
77e Pregnancy | 23 |
The Abortion | 43 |
Separation Solitude and Isolation | 63 |
Guilt | 87 |
Anger | 111 |
Spirituality and Religion | 134 |
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Common terms and phrases
abor abortion day abortion experience acceptance Al-Anon Alice Walker angry aware became pregnant believe birth control breaking your silence Carol Gilligan chapter child choice choose clinic conflict consider create culture decision to abort depression discomfort doctor Down's syndrome eating disorder Emily Hancock emotional experienced explore express fantasy baby fear feel anger feel guilty felt female forgive girl grieving healthy hurt incest inner critic inner mother inner voices insight knew lives look loss lover Maya Angelou Michael Frank motherhood Nancy Friday never normal Overeaters Anonymous parents past abortion physical post-abortion healing post-abortion pain post-abortion woman pregnancy and abortion psychological psychotherapist punished questions realize recognize relationship religion religious woman resolve responsible ritual self-esteem sense sexual shame share solitude spiritual talk tell terminate a fetus things thought tion told Twelve-Step Programs understand unwanted pregnancy write