What Hopeful Adoptive Parents Should Know About Post Adoption Depression
By Stephanie Hall, MA, QMHP
In February 2025, PAS Counselor, Stephanie Hall, hosted a training on this topic for our adoptive families, which she has summarized in this blog post.
You’ve heard of Postpartum Depression, but have you heard of Postadoption Depression Syndrome? Postadoption Depression Syndrome (PADS) is a depressive episode that occurs after an adoptive placement. According the National Council for Adoption (NCFA), studies show that PADS affects 8%-32% of parents. Symptoms of PADS are similar to depression and include a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in daily life, loss or increase of appetite and difficulty sleeping. Adoptive parents also may experience feelings of guilt, worthlessness, have difficulty concentrating and may even have thoughts of harming themselves.
The experience of adopting a child is never what we anticipate it will be- most people wait a long time until they can adopt and it’s common to spend that time fantasizing about their adopted child and adoption experience. Adoptive parents may expect to feel overwhelmingly attached or in love at first interaction with their child despite having an understanding of how attachments are formed over time. They may anticipate that they won’t struggle with basic childcare, lack of sleep, or overstimulation because they will be so elated to have finally adopted. In cases of PADS, the parents report often feeling blindsided by their feelings. Adoptive parents may struggle with their feelings thinking they “should” be happy, or it “should” be easy because they went through such a long process to adopt, and it was something they really wanted. This can also prevent them from confronting their feelings or getting help, because they may fear the stigma around mental health counseling would be even harsher towards adoptive parents. This last point is not an unreasonable fear, since we know there is a shortage of adoption competent therapists who fully understand the unique needs of adoptive families. It can be confusing to come to terms with feelings of depression surrounding a child that they so desperately wanted. While most adoptive parents will not experience PAD, it’s important to understand the risk so we can be aware and supportive.
Know the signs. Some potential indicators of depression include loss or change in appetite, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating or completing task, recurring thoughts of death or self-harm, loss of motivation or enjoyment in things typically enjoyed. Parents who already struggle with depression before adopting are at a higher risk of experiencing PADS. It is important to reach out to your Adoption Worker if you are struggling and need help. It’s also helpful to surround yourself with an adoption competent support system whom you can lean on in times of stress. To learn more about PADS, you can read the article “Understanding Parental Postadoption Depression” by Dr. Karen Foli. For additional support and resources, please visit Postpartum Support International. You can call or text their helpline at 1-800-944-4733. To text in English, please use: 800-944-4773. To text in Spanish, please use: 971-203-773. You can also call or text the National Maternal Mental Health hotline at 1-833-852-6262.
Understanding Parental Postadoption Depression