Adopted Child Syndrome – Signs, Causes And Prevention

• Problems in bonding and resisting bond-building on the part of an adopted child toward his or her adoptive parents
• Attachment disorders
• Lying and stealing
• The volatile and aggressive behavior exhibited by the adopted child
• Challenging authority and picking up fights with people in the household

Also Read: Bringing Your Adopted Baby Home

Symptoms Of Adoptive Child Syndrome

The signs and symptoms of Adopted Child Syndrome will be different for different children. More often, the adoptive children with these issues will not open up their emotions and thoughts with the foster parents. Therefore, the parents should be aware and watch out for the following signs of ACS, as the adopted child bears twice the risks of psychological issues than normal children.

• Reactive attachment disorder (RAD): Children with attachment disorders have trouble attaching to others and handling their own emotions. This results in privation of faith. The child always discards the parent’s efforts to calm, soothe, and bond with him or her. A child with an attachment disorder feels unsafe and alone
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This condition is characterized by feelings of extreme fear, helplessness, and vulnerability
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder/ ADHD: This is a condition in which the child has issues with paying attention and concentrating on everyday jobs or studies or even playing, The child has a tendency to act without thinking much, and also exhibits trouble for sitting still.
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD): Child with ODD exhibits extreme opposition to authority, fight with parents, outbreaks of anger and meanness with peers
• Separation anxiety disorder: Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which the child exhibits excessive anxiety even if he or she has to separate for a little while (like going to school) from home or from those to whom the child is attached
• Identity crisis: This is a feeling of unhappiness and confusion, often occurring in adolescence, caused by the inability of the child to identify their personality

 Also Read: Five Important Facts On Adoption In India

What Causes The Adopted Child Syndrome?

The reasons that pave the way for the adopted child to develop ACS are:

1. Primal Wound

According to the available evidence, the children whose connection with their biological mother is severed either before birth, during birth, or during pre-verbal life (before a baby knows a language and uses words to communicate) develop primal wounds.

Thus, every child given up for adoption get that feeling of rejection to some extent irrespective of how young they are. This causes a primal wound, which often gives rise to the adopted child syndrome

2. The Pain Of Parting

The orphaned and abandoned kids carry the pain of parting from their biological parents. Even very small babies, who are not able to remember the trauma, could feel it subconsciously. This creates a fear that their adopted family also would leave them one day. This fear of separation from the new family can result in adopted child syndrome.

3. Cultural Differences

If the adopted family comes from a different ethnic origin than the adopted child, let it be skin or hair color, facial features, etc., the child could find it hard to adjust and feel the as odd one out and has an increased chance to grow up into a confused personality

4. Genetic Difference

Even if the adopted family and the adopted child come from the same nationality or race, obviously they will not resemble each other due to genetic differences. Not having any resemblance to other family members can create a feeling of being different which gradually may pave the way to adopted child syndrome

Also read: Adoption Facts

What Are The Effects Of Adopted Child Syndrome?

Not all the children who are adopted exhibit the effects of adopted child syndrome. Many of them grow normally like any other children. However, several researchers have found that the rate of psychological maladies is more among adopted children than in normal ones. Here are some effects of ACS.

• Adopted children show a delay in accomplishing physical and emotional development milestones as compared to normal children.
• The adopted child develops attachment issues that increase with their age. As they grow, even if they may show attachments to an unfamiliar person, they remain emotionally detached from the foster parents.
• They have a tendency to get drawn to alcohol and drug abuse, thereby, inclining them toward different kinds of crime.
• The adopted children are found to develop psychological issues like eating disorders. Overeating and under-eating are very common among such children.

Ways To Prevent Adopted Child Syndrome?

It is a fact that adoption provides a huge positive change to abandoned children who have experienced a tough life and rejection in their young lives. However, as foster parents, it is equally important to put additional effort to make the kids settle down in their new life. The following steps will help to prevent or decrease the intensity of ACS:

1. Love And Care

Find more time to care for and love him. Each and every gesture of yours should provide him a feeling that you love him and care for him and that he is an integral part of your life. Giving him a hug, holding his hand while speaking sweetly to him, ruffling his hair with love, etc., help to increase his confidence and trust.

Also read: Bonding With Your Adopted Baby

2. Never Forcefully Attempt To Mold The Character Of The Child

Never try to forcefully mold the character of the adopted kid according to your wish by scolding and punishing. Give them time to settle down and eventually through love and explaining the logical consequences of his act slowly bring him and mold him according to your wish

3. Urge The Child To Socialize

Encourage the child to socialize. Give the child every opportunity and create events (like planning a party, taking him to the park, etc.) to socialize with the neighbors and friends. This will eventually help the child to come out of his cocoon

4. Instill A Feeling Of Permanency

Adopted children are always in scare of losing people around them as they experience the same early in their lives. It is imperative to instill the confidence in them that you are going to be around him/her permanently and not just for a few hours or days

When To Talk To A Doctor For Adopted Child Syndrome?

It is very difficult to understand and recognize the symptoms of Adoptive child syndrome. So you have to closely watch your adopted child and if he shows any of ACS then timely medical intervention is necessary. Take him to a psychotherapist who will look at his symptoms and treat him accordingly. Psychotherapy will help to remove the negative feelings, guilt, anxiety, rejection, etc., from your adopted child’s mind.