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A Solitary Sorrow: Finding Healing & Wholeness After Abortion
Teri and Dr. Paul Reisser

Review first published in the Post Abortion Review:

This book addresses the issue of post-abortion trauma in a clear, easy-to-read, and yet compelling fashion. Terri Reisser, a marriage and family therapist who has counseled many post-abortive women, has written a book that not only tackles the topic of post-abortion healing but also explores issues like the symptoms of post-abortion trauma and the social stigma surrounding abortion itself. Her thorough treatment of these issue makes this book an invaluable resource for post-abortive women seeking to understand and overcome their pain.

A Solitary Sorrow is divided into two parts. Part one explains post-abortion trauma and why it is so difficult to find healing. Reisser explains the symptoms of post-abortion trauma and the five stages of grieving that most women face after abortion. She describes what happens when a woman gets "trapped" in one stage of this process, such as denial or numbing, and why it is important to resolve and move beyond it.

In the second part, "The Healing Journey," Reisser illustrates the healing process by taking us through what would be a typical course followed by one of her support groups. In order to give readers a better understanding of this process, Reisser drew on the experiences of four women from her groups, recording their reflections and reactions at each stage of the healing process. Each chapter in this section covers various issues tackled in the group, such as facing a past abortion, dealing with guilt and forgiveness, releasing anger, mourning one's loss and finally, moving on from the abortion.

The"Moving On" chapter includes a list of questions to help the woman in post-abortion counselling identify and evaluate the work she has accomplished so that she will be better able to understand where she is in her healing journey. This chapter also offers insight on how to deal with recurring memories or negative emotions that might crop up even after one has "achieved" post-abortion healing. Reisser reassures women that post-abortion healing is an ongoing process and that such feelings are normal and can be handled.

Other issues addressed in the book are post-abortion healing for teens, the effects of abortion on marriages, and issues related to deciding how and when to tell loved ones about a past-abortion. Especially welcome is a section on how to help a friend or loved one who has had an abortion but is unable or unwilling to talk about it.

A Solitary Sorrow is not a complete post-abortion "workbook," and those who are struggling with unresolved post-abortion issues should contact one of the ministries listed in the appendix for further counselling. However, this thoughtful and sensitive book will help women better understand their post-abortion pain and encourage them to break the silence about their "solitary sorrow."

Review originally published in The Post-Abortion Review, Vol. 9, No. 2, April-June 2001. Copyright 2001, Elliot Institute. The Elliot Institute is the web's most complete source of information on the aftereffects of abortion and post-abortion healing.

This book can be borrowed from the Edmonton Prolife office.

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