Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Adoptive Parents

Did you know that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect 1 in 7 women? And did you know that they can also occur in adoptive parents...and fathers?

While adoptive parents do not have the same physical experience that a birthmother would, the emotional experience of bringing a baby or infant into the home can be stressful. There are lots of reasons for this; examples include difficulties in bonding with the baby or abrupt changes in lifestyle or financial status that a parent hadn’t anticipated.

Because society generally thinks of PMADs as occurring only in biological parents, it’s common for adoptive parents with symptoms of PMADs (or PADS: post-adoption depression syndrome) to be feel as though their symptoms may not be valid enough to seek mental health treatment since they did not physically birth their baby. They may feel significant guilt, shame, and pressure around acknowledging their symptoms since this is often considered by friends, family, and society as a time to be grateful, relieved, and blissful.

Adoptive parents, caregivers such as grandparents or legal guardians taking care of little ones...I see you and acknowledge your hard work. There is help available and you do not need to struggle in silence.

Support comes in many ways - contacting a friend or relative who helps you feel safe and contained, support groups, individual therapy, etc. If you’re feeling like it’s time to talk with a professional, or have questions about resources that may be helpful as an adoptive parent/caregiver, please feel free to reach out.

With gentleness and compassion,