What can a tiny baby know? The Hidden Life of an Adopted Child: Understanding the Impact of Adoption

"...Adoption is a trauma that happens to a child. The child is torn away from her biological mother, placed in the arms of strangers and is left with questions, doubts, fears and anxiety with no way to verbalize, express, mourn or contextualize those feelings. ... children remember their birth and the following events, including relinquishment and adoption up to the age of three...."

Read the article here: http://adoptionvoicesmagazine.com/adoptee-view/adoptee-view-what-can-a-tiny-baby-know/#.UbyXLlHn-Ka.facebook

About the Author

Karl Stenske

Karl Stenske shares a rich and compelling story as an adoptee. Being one of the many who had a great adopted family, he never thought being adopted had a big effect on his life. But at 37, Karl began to unravel the true impact adoption did have on his life and the lives of those who loved, and tried to love him. A sought after speaker and educator, Karl offers insights into the wounds created when any child is separated from his birth mother. In The Hidden Life of an Adopted Child: Understanding the Impact of Adoption, Karl explores the traumatic experience suffered by that separation and its influence on self-esteem, value, worth, and identity.


This comment was made on another post "Adoption Depression" but it is relevant to this:

RLDavies said: September 10, 2013

This is a subject that needs to be discussed, especially in light of Margaret A. Keyes’, PhD new study conducted at the University of Minnesota, just published yesterday (9-9-2013) in Pediatrics Magazine.
The study shows that:
1) Teens who were adopted in early childhood had approximately four times the risk for attempted suicide in late adolescence compared with offspring living with their biological parents.
2) Adoptees had higher rates of externalizing behaviors, childhood disruptive disorders, negative mood, and lack of interest in school, but even after adjustment for these, the adopted teens still had an increase in risk of attempted suicide.

Many other studies have shown similar results, but for some reason, no one seems to want to talk about this issue. Even though lives are at risk.
It’s important that we shine the light on this.
For the record, I’m uncomfortable with the label, “adoption depression.” I think that’s misleading–and dangerous. I think we suffer from trauma and unrecognized grief and should be treated appropriately.