Adoption is an act of given parenting of a child to someone who is believe to be capable, responsible and qualified as per the policies of state or country they reside. In many jurisdictions, adopted persons full original birth certificates is cancelled and replaced with a fabricated post-adoption birth certificates that state that the child was born to the adopted parents. This deception when carried out, may continue with the adopted persons for life. Adopted persons experiences many well documented traumas which includes; grief of separations and loss, managing post-adoption issues, self-esteem and identify issues. Everyone adopted and non-adopted is shaped by their experiences either positive or negative.
Firstly, the major factor that could affects the early stage of adoption are grief of separation and loss. While it may be difficult for parent to comprehend, most adopted children may experience some feelings of grief and loss related to their adoption. They may suffer from birth parent loss as well as siblings, grandparents and extended family loss. Matured adoptees who were taken later in life may grieve the loss of friends, schools or neighborhoods. They may experience occurrence of repetitive anger, denial, anxiety and fear, which may be compounded when they feel like others cannot understand or recognize that they are grieving.
These issues usually surface sporadically or at emotion milestone later in the adoptee’s life. Feelings of grief and loss may lead to abandonment and rejection, which can most likely generate into a phobia, issues with holding on and letting go. These could lead to behavioral issue which could impact the development of friendship and future relationships. Grief may also be complicated by guilt when an adopted person feels that he or she is being disloyal to their adopted parents by grieving their birth family. Everyone processes loss and grief in their own way and at their own pace, some adopted persons may require extra support as they come to terms with these difficult emotions (Cordovano, 45).
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Secondly, managing post-adoption related issues may arise for adopted persons and their parents at any time. Children who were adopted at an older age and who experienced trauma earlier in life such as neglect, abuse, multiple foster care placements or institutional care, may have additional developmental, social and emotional difficulties. Some research conducted in 2017 suggests that, these children maybe at hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety disorders and attachment disorders (ACA, 20). Many adopted persons will struggle to form trusting bond with adopted parents if they experienced prior neglect, abuse or institutionalization. People who may have experienced traumas or who are struggling with mental health or developmental issue due to adoption, may benefit from available counseling and support services.
Finally issues of self-esteem and personality identity. Adoption presents great obstacles for adopted persons as they work through the identity information process, especially in the early stages of adolescence. Adoptees with limited information about their birth families and reasons their birth parents choose adoption, may especially experience difficulties in identity development. Identity development issues may surface along the line. Some adopted people may view themselves as different, unwelcome or with their non-adopted peers who have more information about their backgrounds and are more secure in their identities.
Identity issues may be further complicated if the child’s race, tribe or heritage differs from that of the adopted family. Feelings of rejection and struggles among peers or family members is closely related to cases of lower self-esteem. Introducing counseling or therapy services to help address these issues will be appropriate. Adopted persons may have feelings like something must be wrong with them for their birth parents to have given them away. They must be made understand that these feelings, and thoughts are unrelated to the amount of love and support received from the adoptive parents and family (Cordovano, 51).
In conclusion, even though lot more information is now available today about the adoption, learning about adoptee’s biological parent and genetic histories are very important. However, there are some issues faced by adopted children later in life, some of which include grief from separation and loss, managing post adoption issues, self-esteem and identify issues. It is very common for people who were adopted to have the feel of rejection and abandonment by their birth parent. Also, guilt accompanies loss and grief because adopted individual believes that they are being disloyal to people who adopted, loved and raised them up because some states of child’s developments involves a search for self-identity, and this will present special problems for the adoptees.
