Hello and welcome to my podcast, The Wellness Project with Des. On today’s episode, I speak with Mardalena Dawn Turpel about an abortion she had 30 years ago and the toll it took on her mental health.
I’m Desiree, a Mental Health Therapist that is passionate about helping people improve their mental health and live a healthy and fulfilled life. One way I do this is by interviewing experts in the field of mental health and wellness as well as those that have struggled with their mental health but have gained control over it and now live fulfilling lives. In this episode, we will hear from Mardalena about her decision to have an abortion when she was 18 years old.
Mardalena Dawn Turpel is a Master intuitive massage therapist, podcast producer and host, and award winning international best selling author of Lineage Speaks and Prosperity Codes. She believes it is never too late to change your story and reconnect to the divinity inside you.
Thirty years ago, Mardalena became pregnant the summer before going away to college after the 3rd time ever having sex. She had always wanted to be a mother but knew it wasn’t the right time. She was starting college in a few weeks and knew she wouldn’t have been able to go if she continued the pregnancy. She would have needed help from her parents. She realized that if she were to continue with the pregnancy, she wouldn’t have been able to raise her child the way she would want to. She wouldn’t have been able to be independent. But still the decision wasn’t easy for her.
Mardalena struggled to make the decision of whether or not to have an abortion. It took her a long time to decide to have an abortion. She had the abortion right before the 3rd month mark.
Mardalena explains that the entire process was traumatic for her- making the decision, the procedure, and keeping her abortion a secret from everyone except her best friend and boyfriend.
Though Mardalena is confident she made the right decision at the time, she was raised Christian which was a big part of the reason she decided to keep her abortion a secret. She feared being rejected from her parents, friends, and other loved ones. She feared being judged and she was scared of claiming that as a part of who she was. She didn’t want having an abortion to become a part of her identity.
After her abortion, Mardalena felt like she was living a double life. She made a huge decision, experienced a huge loss, and had to walk around like nothing had happened. No one knew she was suffering.
Her abortion and keeping it a secret took a toll on her mental and physical health. The secret she was holding on to manifested into physical pain.
About 6 years after her abortion, Mardalena got into a DUI accident due to the trauma of the abortion. That was the point she knew she could no longer keep her secret. She opened up to her parents about her abortion and was able to start the healing process.
Mardalena had her first child at 28 years old. She had an extra 10 years to grow, mature, become an independent woman and be the mother she always wanted to be. She now has three amazing sons and they are a very happy family. If she hadn’t had the abortion, she realizes that she wouldn’t have the sons she has now and wouldn’t have been the loving, supportive mother she is able to be now.
Mardalena explains that her abortion was an extremely difficult and personal decision and she can’t imagine anyone else being involved in that decision. Because of her experience, she strongly believes that the decision to have an abortion or to have a child should be left to a woman and her doctor.
Listen to Mardalena’s story to hear about what led her to make the decision to have an abortion and the toll having to keep it a secret had on her mental and physical health.
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