Post-adoption depression

It’s very important to be aware that some parents (usually moms) experience what has been called “post-adoption depression.” At the end of this article you’ll find links to some excellent articles that describe this phenomenon and how to address it.* 

When an adoptive family has worked and planned and waited and hoped for so long, it’s hard to imagine that the family life they had so eagerly anticipated may not be the wonderful experience they expected. 

Perhaps you identify with some of these situations: 

• Friends and family have questioned the wisdom of your choices; 
• Agency and/or government staff have been probing intrusively into your personal life; 
• You fear that being honest about how you feel will jeopardize what you have worked so hard to achieve; 
• You fear that your faith is not sufficient or that God has abandoned you; 
• You feel guilty that you are not bonding well with your child;
• You are blaming your child for not meeting your expectations.

Whatever the case, there is help out there if you (or your spouse or friend) are feeling this way! Read the following articles, see a doctor, speak with a counsellor or give us a call at 1.800.661.9800 for a confidential consultation on how you can move forward.

Post-adoption depression: From the heart of an adoptive mother

After the adoption, a new child and the blues

A condition hard to understand: post-adoption depression