Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Opinion

Abortion Myth About Depression Falls Before Science

December 04, 2008 01:26 PM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

I had an abortion. It DESTROYED me along with my baby

Unlike many bloggers here, I am a woman who actually had an abortion. I had the abortion 2 years ago, and I have been dead inside ever since. Not a day goes by that I don't think of the baby I would have had. You know those pictures of dismembered, aborted fetuses? Well, that's what my soul is like inside. For the first few months after the abortion, I was so depressed I barely got out of bed and had to quit my job. At one point, I od'd and had to spend time in a psychiatric hospital because I was so depressed. Now I am able to function, but I'm like a robot. I don't think I will ever be truly happy again because of the emptiness I feel and the horror I went through

I had the abortion in large part because of the hateful coercion and guilt-tripping of the baby's father and others. The prochoice movement is always going on about prolife men telling women what to do, but they're silent about the many pro-abortion-rights men who bully, intimidate, guilt-trip, and sometimes use violence against women to get them to abort.

But regardless of circumstances, I know the abortion is ultimately my fault. And it is a horrific thing I have to live with for the rest of my life. And I am hardly the only women who had an abortion who feels this way. Just in my own circle of acquaintances I know a LOT of women who were severely depressed by their choice to terminate.

Also, I think it is important to note I am not religious--I am an agnostic--so I do not feel guilty because of religious reasons. I feel guilty because I killed my baby.

So, Bonnie Erbe and you proabortion feminists who supposedly care about women, if you truly care about women, you will warn them about how messed up they might be following an abortion. For many women, they will be scarred for life.

"A Study Published" that the best you've got?!

Bonnie,

Not all studies are done right.

Just because they're conducted doesn't make them a valid study.

You should consider using more rigorous intellectual standards.

Otherwise you will continue to look like a "Pop-lightweight."

Take it from Oprah - do more homework.

Sue

Denying Free Will

I'll be the lone voice of reason here and ask why is it the business of anyone else? I personally don't like abortion any more than you do, however, and this is the important part, I recognize that it's not my decision what other people do with their bodies and to attempt to interfere in their choice is wrong.

You would seek to deny free will, the very essence of self. Think about that for a moment, and then attempt to find other socio-political issues wherein free will applies...

Interesting

I would expect that there are a lot of women that are quite relieved after having an abortion as well. You really have to look at the state a women is in before the abortion as well, they may be depressed and more likely to use drugs before they were pregnant therefore some of these clams have no base. Also a good point the indiviuals that are so antiabortion only care about what happens to that fetus they could care less about it after its born, would you rather have a child suffer for 18 years because a women was forced to have it? I don't see the point of this agrument anymore if you want to stop abortions go to the source of the problem and education our kids about sex and having safer sex. Also there is a lot of research that shows abortions don't stop if its outlawed a women will find a way and instead of a clump of cells being extracted a womens life is lost in the process as well, before roe vs wade there were whole hospital floors dedicated to the treatment of women with botched abortions. Also many of you state the abortions take place because a women choose to have sex, what about those that are rapes. WOW to some of the comments.

People who think they know what's moral and what isn't don't care about studies.

Whatever you think about abortion, as long as it's not your body, you don't get to decide. You don't have the right to turn anyone else into an incubator against that person's will.

Abortion

Bonnie, you are a disgrace.

Have you had an abortion, or is this your opinion?

If you did, then you have no conscience.

If you didn't, then you're "feminist" advice will destroy the lives of many young girls.

Many good people who can't have children would love the chance of raising a child.

God help your soul.

So...would all the requirements listed by RL Schaefer apply to every woman that got pregnant? Not only to those that were considering abortion?? Isn't the decision TO PARENT as monumental as the decision NOT TO PARENT?

abortion

comparing abortion to the holacaust is the most irrational, mean spirited thing, I have heard. OH thats right, Mike Huckabee speaks of the 40 million babies who are victims of the holacaust in their mothers womb.

You evangelicals or whatever you are, don't know the first thing about unintended pregnancy. I did see a sonogram at 6 weeks, nothing was there. I also KNOW I did not KILL a child or anyone else. an embryo hasn't any consiosness, no brain, and therefore is not an unborn child. It is an organism.

the quilt and stigma attached to a perfectly acceptable human right , is what causes women distress and mental health issues. the worst sin in the world is to bring un unwanted child into the world, adoption or no adoption, and for the record, most adopted children, not all ,grow up with a hole in their heart, never feeling wanted.,no matter how much love their adoptive parents give them. Why would a woman create a child , just to give it away? The people calling women who have had abortions, killers and murderer's have done these women great harm, and should think about doing something valuable with their own lives. just what in the universe makes the unborn more sacred than the born, especially in the embryotic stage.?

Flawed Article

I'm a certified behavior analyst. I work with individuals affected with a wide variety of traumatic issues. I have worked with post abortion patients. Some of which it's been years since the procedure had been complete. Many are still affected with the trauma of making this choice.

No Depression

Yes, you hurt my feelings terribly. Have a lovely evening, and don't dream of scalpels on your scrotum.

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About Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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