Let’s Get Real: Adoptive Parenting and PTSD

The unpreparedness that we discuss is not about why you adopt or your feelings about adoption, but in the adoptive parenting. That is what will truly matter to your child. The first step of getting real is being aware that PTSD is common in internationally adopted kids and foster-to-adopt kids. Even more important is to understand that behaviors may not just be a transition or adjustment. Most post adoption media and blogging that touches people –these stories of supposed enlightenment–focus really only on the first few months. What you see in those first few months does not necessarily translate into behaviors you will see later. The behaviors may be different, worsen or become compounded. New school years are often a transition time that set off PTSD behaviors. Trying to assess any learning disorders at the same time as that transition can be quite difficult.

It is important to mention (though this post won’t focus on it) if corruption/trafficking has been part of your adoption process, then PTSD can take on a whole new meaning.

Recommendations about PTSD

The discussion portion of this 2003 study in Romanian children  really is a great way to look at what should be done:

“To confirm this hypothesis it would be necessary to see that all foreign adopted children are tested at the moment of placement in the adoptive family. Then adoptive parents should receive appropriate services after children are placed in their homes. After some time, probably 3 to 5 years, the adoptees should be tested again. In addition, more information about the circumstances in Romanian orphanages would be necessary, because we have to reconstruct the past of the adoptees. Only general information of the living conditions of the adoptees was available. Nevertheless, it seemed plausible that the high incidence of problem behavior consistent with PTSD was related to these circumstances of social and physical neglect and abuse…Specialized assistance seems required immediately after placement of the adoptive child in the family and later on. However, this assistance is not provided to the parents. It is undesirable that seriously damaged toddlers and young children be placed with adoptive families with virtually no guidance and support.”

The highlighted parts of the above discussion are not included in any kind of postadoptive screening. Screening suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics is mostly about developmental and infectious diseases issues and obvious physical needs. No one has taken data like this and lobbied for PTSD screenings. Why? We can guess that it has to do with removing the “shine” from the adoption process and that is both sad and dangerous for the child that needs specialized attention but whose behaviors may be chalked up to transition or whatever fantasy that adoptive parents have made up in their minds when the child does not meet their expectations. I would argue that all adoptive parents need to truly be therapeutically trained-training way more in depth than states and Hague regulations require.

There are several possible ways to go about addressing PTSD. One way is to be evaluated by  a psychologist familiar with adoption issues. Another method is to use therapy involving neurotransmitters. An article about use of this can be found here.

PTSD can also be one of several disorders your child may have and also may require medications through a psychiatrist.

Sorting this out will take a long time and will likely take multiple types of therapists. Out of pocket costs will be unpredictable.

Some good links to get started on understanding PTSD:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

One of the links on our home page: National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Comprehensive list of worldwide resources can be found here.

You need to RECOGNIZE the issue, then ADDRESS the issue, then RE-EVAULATE the issue and RE-ADDRESS as needed.

I was thisclose to linking to a blog of a newbie AP who is in the recognition phase of this parenting process—and it’s great that people can even get to Step 1 as many do not even get that far– but it is pointless and possibly head-in-the-sand dangerous to glamorize Step 1 when far too many people do not follow through with the last three steps. The last three steps are what are going to count for the child and child-focused is how we will remain on this subject.

REFORM Puzzle Piece