Emotional Support During Abortion Care
by Vann Jones
If you are a transgender person who is experiencing stress about the abortion process, it is important to take care of yourself. Navigating an abortion during this time can be overwhelming, and finding ways to ask for help and recieve support can take some pressure off of you. To begin, find a friend whom you trust with a background understanding of your situation and identity. You can have this friend call your nearest clinic ahead of time and ask if they are familiar with the needs of trangender patients, or if they have measures in place to be as inclusive and respectful of people’s gender identities as possible. You can also make a plan to have your friend attend your appointment with you for emotional support, either in person or through Zoom, Facetime, or phone call if there are capacity restrictions due to COVID. If your friend attends your appointment with you in person, discuss your boundaries with your friend ahead of time: Do you want your friend to correct staff if they misgender or deadname you? How can your friend show up for you in other ways?
If you’d rather not have a friend with you, there are other ways to stay calm while in the clinic waiting room. Consider bringing headphones in order to listen to music, or bring a book to read while waiting. You may also consider bringing essential oils, or even a lotion that smells really good to you! Aromatherapy can reduce stress, as well as encourage deep breathing which is good for anxiety. Mindful breathing practices in general are a good way to stay calm and pass the time. And if you’re still worried about your anxiety, know that it is common for abortion providers to administer Xanax before the procedure.
If you are in need of additional support or someone to talk to, the Cascades Abortion Support Collective is an Oregon-based group of volunteers who offer free, confidential abortion and reproductive health care support. You can call or text their warm-line and they will get back to you within 24 hours. Another great service which offers nonjudgmental after-abortion support is Exhale. They are available to text in the United States and Canada at 617-749-2948, Weekdays 3 p.m. – 9 p.m, Saturdays 1 p.m. – 9 p.m, and Sundays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. (U.S. Pacific Time). These services’ websites have been reviewed for trans-inclusive language, yet discretion is advised.
If you are having a mental health crisis and are seeking assistance, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ people ages 13-24. Additionally, the GLBT Hotline provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as information and local resources across the United States. If you are at serious risk of harming yourself or others, please contact 911.