Reasons For Post-Adoption Depression

By Cara

Thursday, April 1, 2010, 15:42

Parents who adopt a child often experience post-adoption depression, which they say arises due to unrealistic expectations.

The signs and symptoms of depression include depressed mood, decreased interest or pleasure in activities, significant weight changes, difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping, feeling agitated, fatigue, excessive guilt and shame, and indecisiveness.

People often discuss post-natal blues, but the emotional well-being of parents after adopting a kid is not really talked about.

Adoptive parents who admit having post adoption depression say that they did not anticipate that bonding with their child would be a struggle. They are also scared of the thought that family members and friends would not offer the same support as in the case of a child birth.

"Post-adoption depression not only affects the parents, but it also has an influence on the well-being of the child," says an expert on child care.

Many adoptive parents, during the adoption process, end up demonstrating they are not only going to be fit parents, but super parents. Many said that they took time to bond with the infant or the child.

Other factors that contribute to post-adoption depression may include the expectations surrounding the child's attachment to the parent.

Most adoptive parents found it difficult to deal with the societal pressure and questions like why and how.