I Need Help Recovering from a Past Abortion
Are you experiencing difficult emotions after your partner had an abortion? Whether you initially supported or were against her decision, overwhelming feelings like resentment, regret, anger, guilt, or anxiety can surface days, weeks, or even years later.
If you’re experiencing these feelings, there is hope! With the right resources and support, you can begin to recover from the pain of abortion.
Read on to learn helpful strategies that can put you on a healing path.
Talk about Your Feelings
Difficult emotions can feel a lot like a tangled ball of yarn in your mind. But talking to a trusted individual can help unravel these feelings and make them easier to work through.
However, since there’s much emphasis on women’s healing after abortion, you might feel strange talking about your emotions. Maybe you’re worried that people won’t understand or take your feelings seriously. Or maybe, if your partner is dealing with difficult emotions too, you might feel like you need to be strong for her and stuff your feelings down.
While these worries are understandable, your feelings are valid. And talking about them is the first step toward healing. When choosing a person to confide in, it’s important that you trust them—you want to make sure they’re a good listener and won’t make you feel judged. You could also consider a counselor or support group if you don’t have a friend or relative you trust.
Journal What You’re Going Through
Journaling can be a good option if you don’t have access to a trusted individual or don’t feel ready to talk about your feelings yet.
It isn’t about grammar or spelling—it’s all about writing what you’re thinking, feeling, and experiencing. And best of all, journaling is private. Whatever you say is only for you, so you don’t need to worry about feeling judged or offending anyone.
Here are some journaling ideas to get you started:
Name the top three emotions you’ve been struggling with since the abortion.
What makes these feelings worse?
What makes these feelings better?
Journaling can be a transformative act of self-discovery that helps give a voice to what you’re going through.
Help Others
While it might seem counterintuitive, sharing your experience with other men struggling emotionally after their partners had an abortion can be a healing practice. The more you talk about your experience openly, the more you process it, and the more opportunities you’ll create for yourself and other men to find healing.
If you feel ready, we have opportunities for you to share your experience and hear from other men here.
