Quoting Ellie Shikari:" I have an initial meeting with a counceller next tuesday so I'm going to try and stick this one out... for my child's sake if not mine. Sorry if I sound dumb, but what's PTSD?"
It's good that you have an appointment with a counselor. I hope that he or she can help you work through how you're feeling.
PTSD is post traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms of PTSD fall into three main categories:
1. "Reliving" the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity
-
Flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again and again -
Repeated upsetting memories of the event -
Repeated nightmares of the event -
Strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind you of the event
2. Avoidance
-
Emotional "numbing," or feeling as though you don't care about anything -
Feeling detached -
Being unable to remember important aspects of the trauma -
Having a lack of interest in normal activities -
Showing less of your moods -
Avoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the event -
Feeling like you have no future
3. Arousal
-
Difficulty concentrating -
Startling easily -
Having an exaggerated response to things that startle you -
Feeling more aware (hypervigilance) -
Feeling irritable or having outbursts of anger -
Having trouble falling or staying asleep
You might feel guilt about the event (including "survivor guilt"). You might also have some of the following symptoms, which are typical of
anxiety, stress, and tension:
-
Agitation or excitability -
Dizziness -
Fainting -
Feeling your heart beat in your chest -
Headache
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001923/
And specifically in relation to abortion:
Symptoms of PASS may include any of the following: - Guilt: Experiencing guilt does not imply that you made a mistake or “violated your own moral code,” as some pro-lifers would imply. However, feelings around having an abortion may be complex and have to take into account fear of what others might think.
- Anxiety: General anxiety is a common symptom of PTSD—in the case of PASS, there might be a particular anxiety over fertility issues and the ability to get pregnant again.
- Numbness, Depression: Again, common symptoms of PTSD.
- Flashbacks: Abortion is surgery, and in most cases, it’s surgery that happens while the patient is fully conscious. This can be a distressing experience.
- Suicidal thoughts: In extreme cases, the PTSD that results from a controversial abortion could lead to suicidal thoughts or tendencies and would require immediate treatment. It’s important to note that this is not a common or expected symptom of PASS, but as with any form of PTSD, it is possible.
While abortion can induce post-traumatic stress in some, others will suffer no repercussions at all. In fact, studies have shown that women may feel relieved after experiencing an abortion. However, women who are okay with having an abortion are more likely to talk about their experience than women who are ashamed and regretful and have a better chance of working through this process faster than other women.
Feelings are complex, and sometimes a woman will need to seek out counseling to help her sort through her own emotions and reactions as well as any perceived or actual stigma she may be experiencing. Post-abortion syndrome exists and could be overcome, even if the women believe that they are not allowed to be happy again. A compassionate, unbiased, and appropriate counselor can help a woman who has undergone an abortion come to terms with her decision and find peace again—without a political agenda.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/somatic-psychology/201010/post-abortion-stress-syndrome-pass-does-it-exist
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