So I guess I'm not the only one covering post-adoption depression this month. There's also that Oprah lady … 😉
Birdie Meyer, president of Postpartum Support International, just gave me the heads up on a story on post-adoption depression in the December 2009 issueof O the Magazine. Here's an excerpt, which enumerates some of the reasons why mothers of newly adopted children may experience depression:
"For some parents, says Foli, an adoptive parent herself, the joy of adopting coincides with lingering grief over a lengthy battle with infertility. What's more, conspicuous physical differences between adopted children and their parents or siblings may elicit unwelcome attention from strangers that can intrude upon the bonding experience. Unsolicited input from friends and family—well meaning or not—can also reinforce feelings of inadequacy for newly adoptive parents, who may feel insecure and overwhelmed, particularly if their child has experienced trauma or neglect."
Click the link for more stories on adoption and depression.
Thanks for writing about this. I have been suffering with PAD for months now. But I finally got around to writing about it as a topic on my blog. Not enough people know about it, and those that suffer have few places to turn for info. Luckily there are those few who are willing to brush off the shame and talk about it.