Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion

By Theresa Burke and Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon

Book Overview

For more than thirty years, our nation has argued about abortion. In that time, over twenty-five million women have had one or more abortions.

These conflicts reflect the ambivalence and psychological discord which also occur within individuals. Even women who chose abortion for the most compelling reasons often face a daily internal battle between defending and condemning themselves.

While the political battle rages, little has been done to address the emotional needs of those who struggle with feelings of grief, shame, guilt, feeling judged by others--and more. Instead, social taboos have been erected that stifle discussion of abortion-related feelings. Women are left feeling isolated and their recovery is inhibited.

Psychotherapist Theresa Burke, Ph.D., has treated more than 2,000 women struggling with post-abortion pain. Many had been rebuffed by other therapists who would not believe their abortions had caused such trauma. Others came to her because their family and friends refused to acknowledge the reality of their grief.

In Forbidden Grief, Dr. Burke explores the cultural and psychological obstacles to post-abortion healing. She examines why friends and families erect walls of silence around a loved one's grief and reveals how we can and should listen to those who are struggling with past abortions.

Drawing on the experience and insights of hundreds of her clients, Dr. Burke also shows how repressed feelings may be acted out through self-destructive behavior, broken relationships, obsessions, eating disorders, parenting difficulties, and other emotional or behavioral problems.

Learn the secrets that women who have had abortions tell only to their therapists, but want everyone to understand.
Understand how traumatic abortion experiences can be reenacted through repeat pregnancies, abortions, substance abuse, eating disorders, and broken relationships.
Discover how to help loved ones--or yourself--take the steps needed to find healing and joy.

Forbidden Grief also explains how to help loved ones, or yourself, simply by better understanding the nature and origin of unresolved abortion issues--and what steps will help you find healing. You'll also learn about the most up-to-date research on abortion problems, and the fight within the psychiatric community over recognizing post-abortion trauma.

What readers are saying:

"I had an abortion when I was 16 and struggled with the aftermath for 19 years. This eye-opening book offers the general public a clear picture of the everyday realities of the post-abortion experience. Most importantly, it gives women permission to face and resolve their feelings of loss, ambivalence, guilt, or grief." -- Georgette Forney, post-abortion counselor

"Magnificent. It is the model of the tenderness and compassion needed by all who approach the women who struggle with this particular grief of our modern era."--Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D.

"Once in a while a rare book comes along that wrenches every nerve in our bodies and seeks out every crevice of our souls. This is one of those books, and it must be read from cover to cover." -- Diane Irving, Ph.D.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 096489579X
• ISBN13: 9780964895799
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Acorn Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Thank You, Theresa Burke

I am a post-abortive woman, who after 36 years of silence and denial, is finally finding healing and peace from the nightmare of my 3 abortions. My journey started by seeing a small box ad for Rachel's Vineyard retreats and then investigating their web site - www.rachelsvineyard.org. It was there that I "met" Theresa Burke and ordered this wonderful book. It was this book's honesty and courage that gave me the courage to go to my retreat. Theresa Burke investigates and reveals the horrors that many post-abortion women suffer. She also offers hope for healing. This is a MUST read for anyone touched by abortion's nightmare. Thank you Theresa Burke.

Excellent

This is an excellent book which reveals the truth about how abortion has affected the lives of women and men. There are many quotations, which speak to us from the heart of the post-abortive person and therefore cannot be ignored. Here we hear the words of those who have had abortions and have suffered grieviously because of it. There is help and hope for these people, but first, as with everything, we must acknowledge that there is a problem. This is a book for anyone willing to "hear" the truth.

A candid, powerful, and informative examination

Featuring a foreword by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (a.k.a. radio personality "Dr. Laura"), Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain Of Abortion by Theresa Burke (psychotherapist and founder of post-abortion training and healing ministry Rachel's Vineyard) and with the assistance of David C. Reardon (post-abortion issues expert and Founding Director of the Elliot Institute) is a candid, powerful, and informative examination of the trauma of abortion, the dramatic negative impact it can have on women, and the grieving and recovery process women who have experienced abortion undergo. Written specifically to help women struggling with the pain of surviving an abortion, Forbidden Grief is highly recommended reading as an open, emotional, and serious work that seeks to help women heal from psychological and emotional post-abortion trauma.

Hope and Healing

Over ten years ago I had two abortions and this book was a real eye opener! I didn't understand, why I have felt such strong sadness and grief or had such overwhelming periods of anxiety and panic attacks at certain times or events throughout the year. This book was insightful and full of hope and healing. I see now that I wasn't "going mad" but just another victim of society's lie that abortions don't really affect you. I was touched and very moved by the stories of other women. It was very healing for me that I could really relate to their stories and that I did not feel alone in my pain.