PTSD In The DSM-5

These are the criteria for PTSD diagnosis as they appear in the latest DSM, the DSM-5 released this year:

• Criterion A: The person was exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence in person or indirectly by being a witness.

  Read More: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Therapies & Meds

• Criterion B: The traumatic event is re-experienced in at least one of the following ways — through recurrent, involuntary intrusive memories, traumatic nightmares, flashbacks, dissociative reactions, prolonged distress after being exposed to triggers, or physical symptoms when confronted with triggers.

• Criterion C: The person avoids trauma-related thoughts and feelings and physical reminders of the trauma.

• Criterion D: “Negative alterations in cognition and mood”. This can include not being able to recall part of the traumatic event, persistent negative beliefs about self or others, blame, and negative trauma-related emotions like guilt, shame, horror and fear. Also, not being able to experience positive emotions, feeling alienated from others, and a diminished interest in things that were previously significant. Two required.

• Criterion E: Self-destructive and irritable or aggressive behaviors, concentration problems and sleep difficulties — as well as hypervigilance and an excessive startle repsonse. Two required.

• Criterion F: Symptoms persist for at least one month.

• Criterion G: Symptoms disrupt daily life.

• Criterion H: Symptoms are not attributed to other factors like use of medication or illegal substances.

Women will have abortions, and voices that champion their right to do so continue to come from many corners, every time someone seeks to limit that right. Women will have abortions when faced with a truly unwanted pregnancy, and women will continue to have abortions when they feel they have no other choice too.

Some women will feel their abortion was the right decision, while others will regret theirs with all their being. Sometimes, abortion leads to PTSD. Looking at the diagnostic criteria, it appears to be crystal clear that it is indeed possible to experience the full-range of symptoms after abortion. If you don't believe me, look for stories of women who experienced exactly that.

Not every woman who has an abortion will end up with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, just like not every combat veteran or sexual abuse survivor will. Nobody claims it isn't possible to develop PTSD after the latter two.

Are You Facing Post-Abortion PTSD?

PTSD is an interesting beast. Its symptoms initially serve as a survival mechanism that gets us through the tough spots and gets our body ready for another round of trauma. When they linger even once it's clear that the trauma won't repeat itself, they stop us from living instead of saving our lives. Many folks with PTSD need quite a while to realize they have it, in part because the PTSD itself prevent us from seeing our situations clearly. 

If you have had an abortion and think you have PTSD as a result, you are in a difficult spot. You may run into therapists that don't recognize abortion as a traumatic event and believe you can't have PTSD. Instead, you could also run into organizations that acknowledge the existence of PAS but have a political agenda or wish to convert you to their particular religious views. 

The chances are that you will find the right therapist for you in the end, but don't hesitate to try with a new one if therapy isn't helping you as much as you think it could. 

Also, don't underestimate the power of peer support on the internet. The PTSD forum I am part of has quite a few women who had abortions and developed symptoms weeks, months, or even years later. Talking to others in your situation can be truly comforting.