An inner tug-of-war battle takes place with a lot of life’s big decisions. It can feel like we’re being yanked back and forth as we weigh the options in front of us. Maybe your heart is pulling you in one direction while your mind tugs you toward another. You might feel like you’re in the middle of a tug-of-war with yourself if you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy decision. Part of you may be thinking about an abortion as another part of you wonders about continuing the pregnancy. How can you make a decision when you feel torn between your pregnancy options?
It can be hard to move forward in your decision with uncertainty holding you in the middle of your pregnancy options. If you live in the Chicagoland area, take the first steps of your pregnancy decision at Avenue Women’s Center. We offer free pregnancy consultations with our expert client advocates who care about providing you with nonjudgmental support and factual information about your options. Reach out to us today to learn more about how Avenue can help you move forward in your decision-making process.
When I faced an unexpected pregnancy decision, it felt like my heart and mind were playing tug-of-war between my pregnancy options. My mind was set that an abortion would be best, since my life was not in a good place and I was in no way ready to become a parent. My heart, on the other hand, kept drawing me towards continuing the pregnancy, hopeful that I’d find a way through the hardships and everything would all work out somehow. I felt caught in the middle as my mind and heart pulled me in different directions, but I eventually faced my decision with two helpful thoughts in mind …
Look for the Big Reasons
Whenever we played tug-of-war as kids, we looked for the bigger, stronger players to join our team. We wanted to win, and we wanted a player that would help heave us toward victory. With the inner turmoil of an unexpected pregnancy decision, it’s the bigger, stronger reasons inside our minds that lead us toward one option over the other. Yet, sometimes these reasons only seem big at the time, but feel small when we look back on them later. We might become filled with doubt, remorse, or even guilt for making a decision without digging deeper into the reasons why.
What are your big reasons? Are they temporary situations that could change or improve? Are they hardships you could overcome eventually? What is the biggest reason you’re considering abortion? What are the strongest reasons pulling you towards continuing a pregnancy? What reasons are weighing heavier on your heart and mind? As you think through each pregnancy option, what side of you is tugging hardest? And why?
It’s Okay to Feel Torn
In an unexpected pregnancy decision, there might be times when the inner tug-of-war rope becomes knotted and tangled up with a mixture of thoughts and emotions. You find yourself wrapped up in a combination of confusing and conflicting feelings about your pregnancy options.
An unexpected pregnancy experience can be a highly-charged emotional time, but you aren’t alone in your tug-of-war battle. Many women in your similar situation have felt torn between their pregnancy options. It can be difficult to know which thoughts and feelings you should follow forward. It’s understandable, and even normal, to feel torn between your pregnancy options.
There might be a lot of pressure to decide quickly, but it’s important to allow yourself some time to fully process what you’re feeling. Your initial thoughts could be charged with the shock and surprise that unexpected pregnancy news can bring, and your feelings could shift as you think through your options and possible outcomes. Despite how overwhelmed or stressed you feel, you can face your pregnancy options and take steps toward your best decision and out of the tug-of-war.
If you’re feeling torn between your pregnancy options, it can be helpful to learn more information before you decide. Talk through your options during a free and confidential pregnancy consultation in a compassionate and empathetic environment at Avenue Women’s Center. Our knowledgeable client advocates will take the time to address your personal concerns and questions about pregnancy, abortion, and abortion alternatives. We care about providing you with the facts to make an informed pregnancy decision, and we’re just a call, text, chat, or email away!
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.