Adoption and mental illness, any connection?

snow flake

There is plenty of evidence that adoptees suffer mental health related problems at a higher rate than the population in general.
I, myself, have suffered from major depressive disorder since I was a young child. There is no history of this in either side of my bio families.
Their are many with a pro-adoption agenda who will vehemently deny this, but the statistics don't lie. Adoptees are disproportionately represented with mental health problems.

Adopted Jane

No and the really sad thing is because Adoptees DO have many similar problems to what you are describing often they would be misdiagnosed as being mental and they would be locked up.

Even today there are children out there who are misdiagnosed put on to all sorts of horrible medications that are really not necessary in MANY cases, when it all comes down to them being ripped from their mother.

Some of your issues are probably to do with being adopted and then the other issues would be genetic, and or the way your brain is wired.

I wish you the very best in finding your path to health and I do encourage you to see a counselor that specializes in adoption, you may find that it helps a lot with your other issues
((hugs))

Andraya

Borderline Personality Disorder
Bi Polar Disorder
Anorexia Nervousa
Attachment Disorder
Anxiety Disorder

Unmedicated, coping well, functioning member of society, successful in my career, damn good parent and person.

Mental illness is not a death sentence. It doesn't mean you can't function well as a person. It means you have to work a little harder and be more open to self understanding.

Rainia W

I am sure unresolved adoption issues could possibly lead to the borderline personality disorder, and possibly the anxiety disorder as well (although I personally feel it is less likely to lead to bipolar disorder, I think bipolar is just misdiagnosed much of the time these days).

It could also be from genetics, and if you don't know much about your health history, then it is difficult to say which is which.

I don't know if adopted people are more likely to have mental illnesses then their biological counterparts, but I have a feeling it might be slightly higher (slightly, not a lot). Afterall, abuse and emotional trauma can lead to and trigger mental illness and that can happen in adoptive and non-adoptive families.

In the end, they are all things you can overcome, and if they are from your adoption, they are EASIER to overcome. Once you can identify what has triggered your mental illness, it is easier to resolve the issues that cause your everyday problems. It is much more difficult for people who cannot identify or admit to what causes their problems enviromentally.

Jennifer L

Bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are thought to be more genetic than learned, meaning "nature".

Borderline personality disorder however, (which is fairly rare in a male) is believed to be more related to the "nurture" aspect. Based upon your previous question about being abused by your adoptive parent, I would venture to guess that your borderline traits come from that. Many borderlines have a history of abuse/neglect as children.

As to what role adoption plays in that, I'm not sure. If bipolar disorder and OCD are genetically inherited, it's likely you'd have these problems whether or not you'd been adopted and whether or not your adoptive parents were healthy or abusive. Adoption could be a factor in the personality disorder piece, but again, I'd attribute that more to the abuse and trauma you've suffered.

I've worked with many, many (many) borderlines in my career and I can say I've never met a borderline with a normal, healthy childhood.

Just my two cents.

red-haired gypsy

Hi um I'm a birthmom and a full-time mom of 4 kids.The one that is adopted was diagnosed with ADD when he 5 or around 5.My son that is 7 recently was diagnosed with adhd/icd(impulse control disorder)insomnia,and has phonolgical disorders.I think my mom had some problems and I 'm sure I do too.I think genetics play a major role in mental illnesses.

ladedamom

No. Being adopted has nothing to do with bipolar disorder. It's genetic and is the only way you can have it.

a healing adoptee

i have depression from time to time. it may have to do with adoption, i only say this because as soon as i started dealing with all my emotions. my depression has calmed down some. now i just need to work on my trust and fear of rejection. anyway i do think that adoption can play a part with some people regarding mental illness. let your doctor and yourself find what can help and what can be done. you may get some insentive answers on hear saying there is no connection, don't read too much into them. we all deal with our adoption differently, so we can't really say what is related or not

momof3boys

Bipolar is usually a genetic disorder based down by having one or more birth parents with bipolar disorder or a severe depression disorder. Anxiety disorders and the borderline personality disorder as well as Obessive disorders are all genetically passed down. The average person doesn't have markers for any of those that you listed. It is possible that you recieved the disorders from your birth parents.

Alyssa's mommy

There a lot of doctors out there who will diagnos you with what you want them to. When I was a teen all my friends were on depression medications and I felt left out. I filled out a 20 question survey with the answers that would make me look borderline depressed, but not serious enough to a point where I would need counceling.

I can lie to a doctor and tell him of my obsessive personality, how I feel sad all day and wish to die, and how I have crazy highs and lows. Guess what? I can get a whole array of medications I don't need. This has nothing to do with who gave birth to me. This has to do with my ability to act.

EVERYONE has anxiety. The happiest person in the world does. On occasion everyone has problems. Unless it is affecting your daily life, to the point where you can't even function, then it isn't an actual problem that needs a doctor's help.

People who were not taught as children how to deal with their emotions may come off as bipolar because they don't have the proper coping skills. Again, this has no correlation to who gave birth to you vs who raised you. If anything the mistaken bipolar diagnosis should go mostly to non-adopted kids because there are so many idiots out there who get pregnant then neglect their kids for 18 years.

AdoreHim

Bipolar disorder is genetic- it has nothing to do with you being adopted. It has been proven that it is hereditary. If there are many bipolar adoptees it is not from their adoptive family, but from their birth family.

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