Adoption Grief vs. Depression What’s the Difference

By David Seamonson

Grief and depression seem similar in many ways. Adoption grief begins with questioning if you are doing the right thing and if you will ever get through it. Grief occurs in stages, and managing them is incredibly difficult, but in the end, they will end, and you can move on. Guilt can be a major factor in this if you continue to look back and refuse to move on. That is the link to depression. Depression is difficult to describe because it is a feeling of a lack of emotion and numbness that you feel all the time. Emotions can pass, and you can move on, but depression is more than grief and guilt. It is a feeling that no matter what you do, you cannot move forward, and that is dangerous.

If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 1-480-900-5520 or visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona.

Depression and Adoption

Adoption is difficult for birth mothers because an unplanned pregnancy may have been the beginning of this entire process. Managing this is how depression can begin. The rabbit hole is dug when you cannot see the end of the process, and no matter what you do, you cannot see the end of it. Regardless of what you do, you can no longer feel enjoyment in your life.

There is a distinct difference between sadness and depression, and that is something that many people miss. When you think, “I am depressed,” when you are sad, that is not usually the case. Everyone goes through highs and lows, but the misunderstanding here is that depression is a long-term case. A definitive time to realize if you are experiencing depression is if you are experiencing sadness after a two-week period. If those two weeks pass and you are not feeling any better with your situation, then it is best to seek the help of a counselor or a doctor. This can leave lasting impacts on you and your mental health.

Grief and Adoption

Grief has multiple stages that people go through until they can finally accept what they have done. It leads people to an understanding in a confusing way, but it helps you understand your reasons. Adoption is a difficult situation to be in because you are giving up a large part of yourself so that you can have a future you will be proud of. You chose to give your baby up for adoption so that you did not have to look back on something that you were not prepared for.

This can be difficult to come to terms with, and why the time after an adoption is difficult to digest. Know that you can get through this and that whatever you do, you will be able to look back on it and say that your decision was the right one. Remember why you needed to turn to adoption and your adoption agency in Arizona helped you the way they did.

Finding Adoption Counseling and Support

Whether you are facing the stages of grief or if you are in a state of depression, we will help you through your difficult times. Grief is what happens with loss, whether it is a death or if you miss someone such as your baby. Giving a baby up for adoption is not easy, and that is why Adoption Choices of Arizona provides you with many counselors available daily to help you understand your emotions.

Life is confusing, complicated, and not fair, which is why our counselors are here to help you understand it in a new light. Our counselors are open to any birth mother that has started the adoption process as well as if they have completed the adoption process. We understand that emotions are difficult to deal with, and that is why we have counselors.

If you are in a state of depression, we will be there to help you. If you are having difficulty dealing with everyday life and are living in a haze, we want you to call us. Having a person to talk to, a person to recommend treatment, and a person that is there for you have a profound impact on moving on.

Types of Adoption for You to Choose From

Any Adoption Choices of Arizona can realize the impact that adoption has on birth mothers, which is why Adoption Choices of Arizona focuses on open adoption and semi-open adoption. These two options allow you to see your baby in the future and close all contact with your baby. Knowing that you can see your baby if you want to, knowing that they are doing well, and seeing that your decision lets them have a great life is an amazing thing. It has proven to help birth mothers have better mental health for many years in the future. Dealing with grief and depression is much easier when you have proof that your decision left a lasting impact on other people. That way, you see that everything you did allowed you to move on.

Open adoption is a strategy that helps people move forward. Knowing that your decision in the adoption process benefited multiple people can help you understand that you can move on. If you are having difficulty coming to terms with your emotions, we have many counselors available to help you, and if you are experiencing signs of depression, contact us immediately. We want to help you because your future is important to us. You have done an amazing thing by putting your baby up for adoption. We want to help you see this.

For adoption resources or to begin your adoption journey, birth parents can visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona or call or text us at 1-480-900-5520. If you are a prospective adoptive family hoping to adopt a baby, please, instead, visit us here!