What Are the Mental Health Effects of Being Adopted?

Both the trauma and the unrecognized grief may contribute to significant mental health issues.

Here are some ways this affects adoptees.

At a Glance

Adopted children are at a higher risk of mental health issues than non-adoptees.

Affectionate father holding young daughter at home, love, family, nurturing

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Evidence suggests that adopted children face higher risks for childhood adversity, trauma, and attachment issues.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Adoption is a trauma that is often overlooked.

Attachment is the state of emotional connectedness with another human being, primarily parents.

Its not a great way for adoptive parents to explain it to kids."

This is calleddisenfranchised griefa bang out of grief that people feel uncomfortable acknowledging publicly.

Often associated with PTSD,hypervigilanceis a feeling of being constantly on guard for danger.

That sense of danger for the baby is embedded in the nervous system."

Often adults and young adults will experience difficulty with relationships, according to Johnson.

“They wonder, ‘Who can I trust?'”

Their major experiences with “love"have included loss, so they wonder whowillstick around.

Adopteesparticularly in transracial adoptionsmay feel stuck between two worlds.

“Adoption [to a kid] simply means ‘I was given to this family.’

“But as kids get older, they start putting things together.

Grief looks different in children, she says.

Rather than tearfulness or sadness, it often looks like acting out or not behaving.

Other reasons may include the possible inheritance of susceptibility to mental illness, substance use, or suicidal behavior.

You don’t have to face this alone.

Find out which option is the best for you.

Adoption can feel like a very unique and isolating experience that few understand.

A support group of other adoptees may help you feel less alone.

Such groups, whether in-person or online, help you connect with others who have had similar experiences.

This can be a great source of encouragement, understanding, and valuable information.

2009;23(4):201-222.