Tammy's Story

I was 21 years old.... and didn't know where to turn. I told my boyfriend at the time I was pregnant, in his mind there were no choices. He was not pro-life or even pro-choice. He did not listen to what I wanted..."this is what is best, you'll see 2 years from now and you're graduating college" this is what he would tell me. How was I supposed to know that two years later I'd be sitting here telling my story of regret. My first regret was allowing him to make that decision for me. My second regret was going through with it.

I was looking at the papers I was given after the procedure, this is what those papers said: "Emotional problems after abortion are uncommon, and when they happen they usually go away quickly." It's been two years...and I am still having emotional problems...the information given should have said that it is a different situation from person to person.

I have experienced chronic depression. Recently my partner and I separated, which made me feel as though I lost the child I could have had for the rest of my life, but I also lost the partner I thought I would have many other babies with...I guess to make up for the one mistake I made. I know now it was a mistake. I didn't want to go through with it, but I did, and now I live with that decision every day.
If my story seems like I am preaching to people to become pro-life, that is not what I am trying to do. I just want everyone to know that as much of a myth as post-abortion depression may seem....it is definitely not a myth.

Think through your decision and make sure it is what "you" want, not what someone else wants. Remember that you are the one who will look at billboards and bumper stickers, that are pro-life or even pro-choice, not anyone else. Not even one month ago I saw one that caught me off guard. Abortion stops a beating heart. How could any one deny that statement? I just want people to be prepared for the post abortion circumstances. Some people don't have any emotional affects, according to my handout - at least 70 percent. How many of those people never talked about their situations? I know for me this is the first time I have come out and actually talked about what I have done.

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