CHILDREN BY CHOICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

Tell someone you trust

Due to the societal stigma that is placed on abortion, some women choose to keep their abortion a secret. This can be because they are concerned about being judged. Others believe it is a personal experience that doesn't need to be discussed with others. It is your choice whether you talk to others about the abortion.

Some of the potential benefits of telling someone you trust about your experience are that you may be able to receive some support in coping with the abortion, and may be able to process the experience so that you can move on. Not telling anyone about the abortion can sometimes mean building up feelings instead of working through them.

If you do feel it is important to talk to someone about your experience, there may be a few things to think about. One of these things is to find out what the other's beliefs are on abortion. It is also important to work out from the person you want to confide in, what your expectations are from them. If you want some ideas on how you could try to cope better, let the person know. If you simply want someone to listen and not give advice, let the person know. Other people cannot always be supportive unless they know what it is you find to be helpful and supportive.