Stacey Uhrig is a Certified Trauma Care Practitioner, Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner, speaker, and host of the Flip Your Mindset podcast. She specializes in helping individuals heal unresolved childhood and developmental trauma, equipping clients with tools to reframe their narratives and build resilience, self-confidence, and authentic connections.
Adoption is often depicted as a beautiful journey, a narrative filled with love, second chances, and the formation of new families. While this portrayal contains elements of truth, it unfortunately overlooks a deeper and more complex reality: the effects of relinquishment trauma on the mental health of adoptees.
Research consistently shows a strong link between adoption and mental health challenges (also referred to as mental injury). One particularly concerning statistic reveals that adoptees are 36.7 times more likely to attempt suicide than individuals who are not adopted. This staggering figure underscores an often-unspoken truth: while adoption can bring a new beginning, it also starts with significant loss.
Understanding relinquishment trauma
Relinquishment trauma refers to the emotional and physiological responses that occur when a person is separated from their biological parent, even during infancy. Research in developmental psychology and neuroscience indicates that infants begin to recognize and bond with their birth mothers while still in the womb. When this connection is disrupted, the nervous system perceives the separation as a loss of safety and security.
Unlike acute traumas, which often stem from a specific, identifiable event, relinquishment trauma is preverbal and implicit. It is not stored as a conscious memory but becomes embedded in the body's stress-response system, impacting attachment, emotional regulation, and self-identity.
The mental health risks associated with adoption
While every adoptee's experience is unique, data shows that adoptees face higher rates of mental injury and mental health challenges, including:
Increased risk of suicidality: Adoptees are significantly more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Higher prevalence of substance abuse: Research indicates that adoptees are up to four times more likely to struggle with addiction.
Higher rates of ADHD diagnoses: The intersection of neurodivergence and trauma responses often leads to misdiagnoses or overlooked underlying causes.
Attachment difficulties: Many adoptees develop hyper-independence or people-pleasing tendencies to maintain relationships and avoid perceived rejection.
Dissociation and emotional dysregulation: Early separation trauma can impact the development of self-regulation skills, leading to challenges in managing emotions.
Why adoption trauma awareness matters
One of the biggest challenges in supporting adoptees is the lack of awareness regarding the associated risks. Many adoptive families have good intentions but may not receive sufficient education about the psychological and emotional impacts of adoption.
Historically, pre-adoption preparation has concentrated on logistical and legal processes, considerations for transracial adoption, and general parenting techniques, while the long-term mental health implications of relinquishment have often been overlooked.
When signs of distress appear, often during adolescence, adoptive parents and professionals may mistakenly attribute these challenges to typical teenage behavior, ADHD, or unrelated life stressors. This can result in delays in providing appropriate intervention.
Moving toward trauma-informed adoption support
A shift is necessary in the approach to mental health related to adoption. Trauma-informed care acknowledges that early separation from biological parents is not just a past event; it is an experience that significantly influences an adoptee's development and emotional well-being.
Key strategies for supporting adoptees include:
Seeking adoption-competent professionals
Not all therapists possess the specialized training necessary to grasp the multifaceted nature of trauma, especially when it comes to adoption-related experiences. Professionals who focus on adoption are uniquely equipped to understand the intricate dynamics of relinquishment and attachment. Their expertise allows them to navigate the emotional complexities involved and offer more effective, compassionate support tailored to the needs of individuals navigating the challenges of adoption-related traumas.
Utilizing somatic and nervous system-based therapies
Traditional talk therapy models, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), often fall short of addressing the profound and lingering effects of early trauma stored within the body. In contrast, therapeutic approaches such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), somatic experiencing, and internal family systems (IFS) delve deeper into these complexities, offering more effective pathways for healing. These methods prioritize not just cognitive understanding but also the vital integration of emotional and physical experiences, facilitating holistic recovery from trauma’s grip.
Validating adoptees' lived experiences
Rather than promoting the notion that adoptees should feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude, it is crucial to acknowledge and validate the intricate emotions they experience surrounding identity, loss, and belonging. These feelings are often layered and deeply personal, reflecting their unique journeys and struggles. By fostering an understanding of these complexities, we can create a more compassionate dialogue that honors their experiences and promotes healing.
Educating adoptive families before and after adoption
Pre-adoption education should encompass comprehensive discussions on the profound impacts of relinquishment trauma, the intricacies of attachment theory, and the potential long-term psychological effects that adoption can impose on both children and families. It is essential that ongoing resources and support systems for families are not only accessible but also tailored to meet their evolving needs throughout the adoption journey. Providing this foundation of knowledge and support can foster healthier relationships and promote emotional well-being for all involved.
Creating a safer future for adoptees
Adoption is a profoundly complex process, but with increased awareness and access to informed care, the mental health risks associated with adoption can be better addressed. Healing begins with recognition, validation, and appropriate support systems.
For adoptive parents, adoptees, and professionals seeking resources, adoption-competent therapy, and coaching directories, such as the Healing the Adoption Constellation database, provide an essential starting point for finding practitioners who specialize in this area.
By shifting the conversation about adoption to include mental injury, mental health, trauma awareness, and healing, we can help adoptees receive the support they need. This support enables them to navigate their identities, emotions, and relationships in a way that promotes resilience and well-being.
For more on The Hidden Trauma of Adoption No One Talks About, visit the Flip Your Mindset Podcast for an in-depth conversation with Beth Syverson, founder of Unraveling Adoption.
Read more from Stacey Uhrig
Stacey Uhrig, Trauma Care Practitioner (CTCP, C-Hyp, RTT-P)
Stacey Uhrig is a Certified Trauma Care Practitioner, Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner, speaker, and host of the Flip Your Mindset podcast. She specializes in helping individuals heal unresolved childhood and developmental trauma, equipping clients with tools to reframe their narratives and build resilience, self-confidence, and authentic connections. Using modalities like Hypnosis, Parts Work, and Polyvagal Theory, Stacey empowers clients to find clarity, peace, and purpose in their healing journey. As an adoptive mother to two, she also advocates for trauma-informed parenting and creating nurturing environments for personal growth.
