If you’ve been experiencing low mood, grief, anxiety, or emotional heaviness following an abortion, you may be searching for words to describe what you’re going through. You might have even wondered: Is this postpartum depression? Can that happen after an abortion?
It’s a question many women ask, and it deserves a thoughtful, honest answer. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a severe, long-lasting form of depression that some new moms experience after birth.[1]
Symptoms of postpartum depression can include[1]:
- Depressed mood or severe mood swings
- Crying too much
- Withdrawing from loved ones
- Loss of appetite, or eating much more than usual
- Inability to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
- Less interest and pleasure in activities
- Intense irritability and anger
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, or guilt
- Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
- Restlessness
- 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.
So, Can You Get Postpartum Depression After Abortion?
During pregnancy, levels of estrogen and progesterone rise significantly. When the pregnancy ends, for any reason, those hormone levels drop sharply.[2] This rapid hormonal adjustment can affect mood, energy, sleep, and emotional regulation[1], which can sometimes result in depression.
However, the clinical term “postpartum depression” only applies to live births. That being said, studies suggest that abortion may lead to mental health issues for some women, including depression.[3][4]
While you can’t experience postpartum depression after an abortion, it is still possible to experience depression (or other mental health problems) afterward.
What Does Depression After Abortion Look Like?
Post-abortion depression isn’t always obvious. You may still function normally in daily life, while experiencing:
- A sadness that lingers longer than expected
- Intrusive thoughts about the pregnancy or the decision
- Feeling disinterested in activities you once enjoyed and disconnected from people you love
- Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
- Anxiety that feels hard to explain or name
- Guilt or shame that resurfaces unexpectedly
- Grief that is triggered by anniversaries, milestones, or seemingly unrelated moments
Even if abortion may have felt like the right decision at the time, your pain is real. And real pain deserves real 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 Stigma Surrounding Depression and Abortion
One of the most significant barriers to healing is the silence that surrounds this experience. Depression after abortion can be amplified by stigma. Many people feel they can’t talk about their feelings, or worry they will be judged. This is one of the most important reasons why getting support matters so much.
When there is no safe space to process what happened, emotions don’t simply go away, they go inward. They may resurface as anxiety, numbness, or a persistent sadness that becomes the background noise of daily life. Many people carry this weight for years, sometimes decades, without ever connecting it to their experience.
You don’t have to keep carrying it alone. There is help available to everyone struggling with depression after abortion.
Contact H3Helpline for After-Abortion Support and Resources
Healing after abortion, including recovering from depression, is possible. It looks different for everyone, but it often involves finding a space where you can speak honestly, without fear of judgment, and begin to process what you’ve experienced.
H3Helpline’s coaches will listen to your story, offer you grace and compassion, and connect you with local after-abortion support services, so you can start your healing journey.
We offer 24/7 helpline support. Give us a call at 866-721-7881 to get started.
Please note that H3Helpline does not provide or refer for abortion services.
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