Post-Adoption Depression Affects Many Adoptive Parents

New Jersey adoption attorneys likely know that at least 10% of all adoptive parents will experience post-adoption depression (PAD). Some studies put the number much higher than that and at a rate even beyond what birth parents experience. Despite this, there is much less awareness about the issue, and it often takes adoptive parents by surprise.

What Is Post-Adoption Depression?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a complex mixture of behavioral, emotional and physical changes that occurs in some parents after birth. It is often framed as a women’s problem, and while it occurs in women at a higher rate, PPD affects a great number of men as well. PAD is a very similar condition but one experienced by adoptive parents. There was at one point a stigma surrounding PPD. As a society, we had to break it down in order to increase awareness and support new parents. There are similar efforts underway for PPD. Adoptive parents who recognize their depression will often experience shame and other negative feelings that prevent them from getting the help they need.

PAD Takes Different Forms

Like PPD, PAD affects both women and men, and it manifests in many ways depending on the individual and on environmental factors. It can affect people who are in good health and have not grappled with mental conditions in the past. Common traits include anxiety, deep sadness and an inability to bond. Parents may also experience difficulty sleeping, which can exacerbate their PAD. The understanding of PAD among medical and mental health professions is still in its infancy. However, many experts believe that a leading cause is an emphasis on the child’s need to bond without an equal emphasis on the parent. Bonding is a dynamic process that does not occur overnight.

Preventing PAD

Awareness is an important first step. Many would-be parents adopt with no consideration that PAD is even a possibility. Experts recommend a mental health check prior to placement. It is important for every parent-to-be but particularly those that have experienced mental health challenges previously. Be honest with your doctor or therapist about what you have experienced in the past. Some adoption agencies are now requiring parents to identify professional and personal support individuals early in the process. Parents should attend counseling prior to the adoption process, during the adoption process and after it as well. Do not cease counseling just because you do not experience negative emotions right away. Continue until you have experienced the bonding and the family structure is firm.

Coping With PAD

Counseling will help with preparatory training and reading materials. Self-care is invaluable. A person must manage their stress, eat well, exercise regularly and set aside me time. If the PAD is severe, psychotherapy and medication may be necessary. Psychotherapy can include:

• Interpersonal therapy
• Nondirective counseling
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy

Your therapist may also suggest a support group. It can be invaluable to socialize with people who are going through the same kind of emotional turmoil that you are.

PAD Affects the Entire Family

Experts also encourage adoptive parents to recognize that PAD is a condition that affects the entire family. If you have one parent who experiences PAD and another who does not, that other parent will be affected. It can result in negative mental health conditions in them, and they may need counseling and other support even though they are not experiencing the PAD directly. It can affect the children, particularly older children, as well. They can sense it and may feel responsible for it. A child can experience their own depression and may take on the burden of supporting the entire family.

Would You Like Professional Assistance With an Adoption?

A good adoption attorney does much more than handle the logistics and paperwork. The right attorney will help prepare you for what may come and direct you to the resources you need. At the Law Office of Cofsky & Zeidman, attorney Donald C. Cofsky has over 25 years of experience and has helped more than 1,500 families adopt. If you would like to discuss adoption with a New Jersey adoption attorney, call our main Haddonfield office at (856) 845-2555, or contact us online.