If you’re experiencing anxiety, grief, or emotional turmoil after an abortion, you may be struggling to describe what you’re going through. You might have even wondered if what you’re feeling is postpartum depression.
It’s a question many women ask after an abortion, and it deserves an honest answer. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a long-lasting and severe form of depression that some new moms experience after birth.[1]
Symptoms of postpartum depression can include[1]:
- Depressed mood or severe mood swings
- Inability to sleep, or sleeping excessively
- Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
- Loss of appetite, or eating much more than usual
- Less interest and pleasure in activities
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Intense anger and irritability
- Crying excessively
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, or guilt
- Feeling hopeless
- Restlessness
- Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate, or make decisions
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
If you are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts or the urge to harm yourself, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 immediately.
Can Women Get Postpartum Depression After Abortion?
During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone levels rise significantly. When the pregnancy ends, regardless of how, those hormone levels drop quickly.[2] This sudden hormonal shift can affect sleep, energy levels, mood, and emotional regulation[1], which can sometimes lead to depression. However, medical professionals only apply the term “postpartum depression” to live births.
That being said, studies suggest that abortion may lead to mental health issues for some women, such as depression.[3][4] While women don’t experience postpartum depression after an abortion, it is still possible to experience depression (or other mental health problems) afterward.
Signs of Depression After Abortion
Post-abortion depression can look like:
- Lingering sadness
- Feeling disconnected from activities you once enjoyed and people you love
- Intrusive thoughts about the pregnancy or the abortion
- Guilt or shame that resurfaces unexpectedly
- Anxiety that feels hard to explain
- Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
- Grief that is triggered by anniversaries, milestones, or other meaningful moments
Even if abortion felt like the right decision at the time, your pain is valid, and you deserve support. It’s important to recognize the warning signs and reach out for help if you think you may be experiencing depression after abortion.
The Weight of Stigma and Silence
Depression after abortion can be amplified by stigma. Many women feel they can’t talk about their experiences, or worry they will be judged. Instead of seeking help, they suffer in silence.
When there is no safe space to talk about what happened, emotions don’t go away, they go inward. They may resurface as persistent sadness, numbness, or anxiety that becomes the background noise of daily life. Many women carry this weight for years, sometimes decades, without ever opening up to someone about what they’ve gone through.
This is one of the most important reasons why getting support is so important. You don’t have to keep carrying this weight alone.
Healing from Post-Abortion Depression
Healing after abortion and depression is possible. It looks different for everyone, but it often involves finding a space where you can speak openly, without fear of judgment, and begin to process what you’ve gone through.
At Hope After Abortion Support, we offer confidential support groups led by facilitators who have walked this road themselves. There is no agenda here, no pressure, and no judgment. Just a community of people who understand, because they’ve been there, too.
Email us at [email protected] to get started. All services are confidential and free of charge!
If you’re ready to take the next step in your healing journey, Hope After Abortion Support offers confidential support groups for women and men. Please note that our support groups are separate at this time. Learn more about our support groups here.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, November 24). Postpartum Depression. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617
- Hendrick V, Altshuler LL, Suri R. Hormonal changes in the postpartum and implications for postpartum depression. Psychosomatics. 1998;39(2):93-101. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033318298713556
- Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ, Boden JM. Abortion and mental health disorders: evidence from a 30-year longitudinal study. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;193(6):444-451. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/abortion-and-mental-health-disorders-evidence-from-a-30year-longitudinal-study/59A90CBF3A58C58B342CBCFFBBFEBD2E
- Mota, N. P., Burnett, M., & Sareen, J. (2010, April). Associations Between Abortion, Mental Disorders, and Suicidal Behaviour in a Nationally Representative Sample. American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.aaplog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mota-et-al.pdf