In 1981, Vincent Rue, a psychologist and trauma specialist, testified before Congress that he had observed post-traumatic stress in response to the stress of abortion. He called this phenomenon "post-abortion syndrome" (PAS).

Post abortion syndrome occurs because the choice, experience, procedure, and the subsequent grief, pain and regret of an abortion is traumatic. Individuals may try to forget and/or deny the experience and any subsequent pain, or they simply don't relate the pain and stress that they feel to the abortion experience. Eventually, days or years later, memories resurface and the truth of the abortion loss can no longer be denied.

Symptoms of post abortion syndrome may include guilt, anxiety, psychological "numbing," depression and thoughts of suicide, flashbacks of re-experiencing the abortion, a preoccupation with becoming pregnant again, anxiety over fertility and childbearing issues, survival guilt, interruption of the bonding process with present and/or future children, and an increase in post abortion syndrome symptoms around the time of the anniversary, and/or the due date of the aborted child.

Meet two women who experienced post abortion syndrome:

Men may also experience the trauma of an abortion either as the father of an aborted child, or as the spouse of a woman who has had an abortion in the past. Kevin Burke addresses this issue in his recent book Redeeming a Father's Heart, which is available in our online bookstore under our recommendations for post abortion healing.

Healing the Trauma of Abortion

If you, or someone you know is suffering from the pain and trauma of an abortion, Catholic Social Service offers post abortion counseling and Rachel's Vineyard Retreat Opportunities where women and men can achieve renewal and redemption in a safe environment.

A Rachel's Vineyard weekend retreat offers a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.

Rachel's Vineyard can help you find your inner voice. It can help you experience God's love and compassion on a profound level. It creates a place where men and women can share, often for the first time, their deepest feelings about abortion. You are allowed to dismantle troubling secrets in an environment of emotional and spiritual safety.

Rachel's Vineyard is therapy for the soul. Participants, who have been trapped in anger toward themselves or others, experience forgiveness. Peace is found. Lives are restored. A sense of hope and meaning for the future is finally re-discovered.

For post abortion counseling, and/or a Rachel's Vineyard retreat, contact Hattie Stein by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone at 620-227-1584.