Here is an interesting article on Post Adoption Depression Syndrome. Although it is not a formally recognized disorder, it seems that it is a syndrome that is worth researching and discussing openly and honestly.
For years women struggled with postpartum depression in silence and shame. Thankfully, that is changing now due to education and awareness of the problem. It is not unusual to know a woman who admits to having struggled with some level of depression after giving birth to a child. However, I have met many adoptive parents and I don’t think I have ever once heard one talk about becoming depressed after adopting a child.
A few months ago I wrote about adoption remorse from the perspective of adoptive parents who at some point feel they regret their decision to adopt. When I wrote about that, I did not even have post adoption depression on my radar. I wish I had. There were several pointed comments left on my post about adoption remorse. I wonder if people would feel as comfortable commenting on a topic as personal as post adption depression?
After reading the article it raised some questions in my mind about postpartum depression. How much of postpartum depression is truly triggered by hormonal imbalances? Or, does the stress of the adoption experience trigger similar hormonal shifts in adoptive mothers? And, of course, if PADS is a valid construct for adoptive mothers and is not hormonally driven, then do fathers experience PADS also? What a fascinating topic and one that I hope to learn more about.