Before September 2021, roughly 14 percent of Texas women reported frequent mental distress. In the year following SB 8, that number vaulted to nearly 22 percent- a 6.8-point jump even after researchers adjusted for economic and pandemic factors. No similar spike appeared in men or in women living in states without new bans. 

Why does a legislative line trigger a psych line? Agency loss lights up the limbic system the same way physical threat does. Add logistical panic- travel, childcare, lost wages- and the stress hormone cascade becomes chronic. Provider attrition compounds the hit: counties already short on OBs saw the biggest mental-health surge, suggesting that even staying pregnant now feels riskier when local miscarriage or high-risk care is in flux. 

At THRĒ we’ve built buffers. We offer real-time tele-consults when Google gets toxic, maintain a pre-vetted referral list in Colorado, Kansas, and Illinois, and hold rapid-access therapy slots for decision fatigue, anxiety, or grief. Miscarriage management is guaranteed- nobody waits for a committee to green-light medically necessary care. 

If you live in a restriction state, document symptoms, draft Plan A/B/C before you need it, and self-screen with the PHQ-4; a score of six or more is your signal to seek support. Laws can change overnight; nervous systems rarely recover on the same timeline.