PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND ADOPTED CHILD SYNDROME
A Summary from Blake & Associates Law Firm
By Ashley Foster
According to Dr. David Kirshner, parents can cause unintentional harm to their adopted children by projecting their problems onto the kids. He says there is a risk of causing what he calls Adopted Child Syndrome. The condition is described by emotional problems, anger issues, and difficulty maintaining social relationships. The parents in such cases are unaware that they have done anything wrong, when in fact, they are the direct cause.
Abuse, neglect, drug or alcohol exposure, and loss of their primary caregiver can all cause trauma. Trauma experienced before the age of six can actually affect brain development. Trauma increases stress hormones and changes the structure of the brain as it develops. For that reason, adopted children may exhibit issues with attachment, emotional regulation, and impulse control, among other things.