'... and still they weep'
personal stories of abortion
By Melanie Symonds. The SPUC Educational Research Trust. 165 pages. £8.99
ISBN 1-898864-01-2
'...and still they weep' contains 20 moving accounts courageously written by women who have struggled to deal with the devastating effects of abortion.
The book is divided into three parts. The most devastating effect that up to 10% of women seem to endure is Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS). Peter Randall, consultant psychologist, clearly explains that this is formally defined as a category of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which may be acute or delayed. The acute form leads to symptoms generally appearing within six months of the abortion and are frequently resolved within a similar length of time. With the delayed form, the symptoms are experienced much later and last for a lot longer. It often takes a specific trigger to evoke PAS; a new pregnancy or an inability either to conceive or to complete a pregnancy, to mention but a few. Various symptoms may be experienced by women suffering from PAS, but both the number and severity of these vary tremendously; guilt, fear, grief, anger, anniversary reaction and sleeplessness can all be features.
The second part deals with factors that lead to and end in abortion. Phillip Ney, a professor in psychiatry, precedes each personal story with a commentary in which he highlights a particular problem that he feels has contributed to the abortion being carried out. One of the most common factors appears to be a lack of partner support.
The third part covers the devastating effects that abortion can have on other people.
A common factor to many of these women is the counselling help they have received from the organisation British Victims of Abortion (BVA), which was set up in 1987 by the Society of the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) Educational Research Trust. BVA counsellors seek to help the woman recognise and define PAS so that her grief and suffering can be worked through and relief from her pain secured.
Personally, I found this book very moving, for the accounts of these women are written frankly and honestly. It is wonderful to read how the women have been helped by the BVA and how many have found healing and forgiveness in new-found faith in Christ. I do feel that this is a book that would be of interest to a wide range of people. It is a must for all of those working in the medical field who may have to deal with women who have had, or are currently facing the prospect of possibly having an abortion.
Finally, the last group of people that this book may help are those who have undergone an abortion. There is comfort in reading of others who have had similar experiences and hope in learning of the forgiveness and peace of mind they have discovered.
