Post-adoption Depression: What It Is, Symptoms And How To Deal With It
The arrival of a boy or girl into our lives is always a reason for happiness and joy. However, there are a series of factors that can interfere and deteriorate this feeling of well-being and although these feelings are usually associated with postpartum depression, they can also appear at the end of an adoption process.
These cases are known as post-adoption depression a psychological alteration characterized by the emotional suffering of one of the two emotional parents of which we will talk throughout this article.
Post-adoption depression, or post-adoption depression syndrome, is a very little-known disorder that was first described in 1995 by psychologist and adoption researcher June Bond.
Throughout his work, Bond realized the effects that the adoption process has on the mental health of future adoptive parents and observed that on a large number of occasions, adopters experience feelings of acute sadness and anxiety that appear a few weeks after completing the adoption process. That is, shortly after the minor is already settled in her new home. He named this clinical condition post-adoption depression syndrome.
Although its symptoms are very similar to those of postpartum depression, which is already normalized and accepted as a possible temporary consequence of the new situation in which the person finds themselves, post-adoption depression is surrounded by a great level of ignorance.
The reason is that, unlike postpartum depression which is justified as a hormonal readjustment, This biological justification is not found in post-adoption depression And, furthermore, society expects people to feel great happiness and satisfaction when seeing an adoption process carried out, something that in theory requires so much time and effort.
This means that many people feel ashamed and guilty of these feelings of sadness and anxiety that invade them, so they decide to deal with it in silence and not resort to any type of help. Besides, the feeling of incomprehension is also very characteristic of this alteration.
There are many people who experience these effects. In the same way, these symptoms do not appear out of nowhere, but have causes based on interaction with the environment, and there are also a series of measures that the person can take to avoid or remedy it.
What are the symptoms?
Unlike postpartum depression, which is typical of women, although there are also cases in which it has occurred in men, post-adoption depression tends to occur equally in both sexes However, symptoms can vary between men and women. This phenomenon is associated with the influence of gender roles that are still strongly adhered to in different cultures.
In the case of women, they usually experience strong feelings of sadness, feeling tired and extreme fatigue sleep problems and anhedonia or inability to experience interest or pleasure with activities previously considered satisfactory.
All of these symptoms usually trigger a strong feeling of frustration and guilt, since the person feels that they should be in a position of well-being and happiness and cannot understand why this is not the case.
Meanwhile, in men, post-adoption depression It usually manifests itself in the form of irritability and anger Additionally, just like women, they also experience sleep problems and lack of interest in practically everything.
Although there are not a large number of studies or research on post-adoption depression, a series of factors or causes have been established that lead to the appearance of the symptoms and feelings mentioned above.
In most cases, these causes are related to the generation of unrealistic expectations about what will happen after completing the adoption process, as well as the idealization of the role of father or mother. Furthermore, the long waiting periods to carry out an adoption favor this ideal imagination.
As a consequence, once the reality in which they find themselves is perceived, Parents may feel frustrated and guilty about their emotions In the same way, it is common to want to form a strong and quick bond of love with the new member of the family, without knowing that this bond is a slow and laborious process that can take months.
Furthermore, the feeling of lack of understanding on the part of family and friends tends to enhance this feeling of guilt, since the usual thing is that the people around them do not understand why the parents do not feel happy for having fulfilled their dream.
How can it be faced?
First of all, it is necessary to be aware of the existence of post-adoption depression. Knowing it and accepting that it is possible to suffer from it will reduce the degree of surprise and frustration if it appears. Additionally, it will help the person prepare for the new emotions and feelings that he may experience.
