The tears rolled down my face. I thought she was my friend. How could she say those lies about me? Many of us have unfortunately experienced something similar. We begin questioning who else might be a potential foe, and who is a true friend. When emotions run high in a situation, how do we know if we can trust them? What if the situation is an unexpected pregnancy, with emotions running in all different directions? Which direction do you follow forward in your decision?
If you recently discovered you’re pregnant and you aren’t sure about which direction to take, Avenue Women’s Center welcomes you into any of our five locations in the Chicagoland area. We provide medical-grade tests to confirm your pregnancy and private consultations to discuss all of your options, all at no cost to you! We’ve helped women navigate unexpected pregnancies for nearly 40 years, and we understand that it can be difficult to take the next steps in your decision. Make your free appointment today and receive nonjudgmental and accurate information about your options of parenting, adoption, and abortion.
Emotions Behind a Friend or Foe Decision
Most of the time it is easy to determine if someone is a friend or foe, evaluating the person by what they do and or say. If we catch an individual talking about us in a negative light behind our back, we put them in the foe category. Anger, betrayal, and hurt are factors in this foe decision. On the opposite spectrum, a person we didn’t realize cared may surprise us with a thoughtful gift or words of encouragement, and we move them over to the friend category. Gratitude, happiness, and compassion come into play with this kind of friendship decision.
When it comes to friend or foe categories, we trust our feelings to guide us toward the right decision. But what category do our emotions themselves go into? The instinct for many of us is to consider our emotions as our friends. We think of feelings like love and categorize it among the positive emotions that often flow from it: respect, trust, comfort, adoration, devotion, etc. But on the other side is the negative emotion category filled with things like hate, hostility, resentment, animosity, and outrage. How do we know if we can trust these kinds of emotions in the heat of the moment or in difficult situations?
Emotions in a Pregnancy Decision
Navigating many different emotions can be challenging, since they are fickle and frequently change. One moment we are filled with great joy and happiness, but it could all fade away in the next moment. Emotions are akin to being on a roller coaster without a safety bar or seatbelt for security and protection. They can take us on a whirlwind of ups and downs, leaving us to wonder which feelings to follow—especially with important decisions.
Your feelings about an unexpected pregnancy decision might feel much like an emotional roller coaster. One moment you might be certain that you’ll continue your pregnancy with the option of parenting or adoption. But as your emotions become mixed, and abortion might start to seem like your only option. Allowing our emotions to be a part of our decision-making process can be confusing and frustrating. However, when we have a life-changing decision to make regarding an unexpected pregnancy, emotions are not always the best source of guidance. Fear and anxiety can paint a bleak picture of your pregnancy options, and it might feel like there’s only one way forward. You might be in need of someone with practical experience and wisdom to help shed light on the possibilities involved with parenting, adoption, or abortion. It can be helpful to learn more information and better understand the bigger picture of your options, as well as aspects that may not be clear through the mix of emotions.
At Avenue Women’s Center, we understand that emotions can be make an unexpected pregnancy decision challenging. Every year we meet with hundreds of women in similar situations. We care about providing you with accurate, reliable, and nonjudgmental information about each of your pregnancy options. Our centers are here to give you a confidential, private, and compassionate environment to express your emotions and concerns with our expert client advocates. Contact us today and set up your free pregnancy consultation at any of our five centers in DuPage County!
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.