We all have a built-in need to know who we are. Our identity helps us know what about us is consistent and unique from other people. Everyone develops an identity (most of this work happens in adolescence), but this process can be more difficult for adoptees. Through their communication with their adoptive and birth families, adoptees develop an adoptive identity, or an understanding of what is means to be an adopted person. An adoptive identity helps individuals answer questions such as: Where did I come from? Who were my birthparents and what were the reasons they placed me with my adoptive parents? Do I have biological siblings? What parts of me are like my birth family? Who would I have been if I weren’t adopted?
https://www.natcom.org/communication-currents/who-am-i-adopted-individuals%E2%80%99-identity-based-adoptive-and-birth-family
#whoami #adoptionstories #adoptionpodcast #australianadoptionpodcast #myunknowntruthpodcast #adoptionstoriesmatter #identity #adoptionidentity #wheredidicomefrom
This video was in February 2021 just before I started this podcast when I was feeling pretty doubtful. I had just been to the gym about to pick up all the equipment when it hit me. I recorded it to send to a friend who I knew could help me out. Please tell me you can relate to this?? That negative inner turmoil we all go through at some point just as we are trying to challenge ourselves in unknown territory, waiting to work out how you’re going to handle overriding thoughts. Learning to be comfortable in the uncomfortable. Easy said than done. Time and time again we all have had to manage a part of ourselves that feels that it has a right to be there. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t, that’s for us to figure out. Sometimes it protects us but other times it serves no purpose than to hold us back. We can learn to take a risk and delayer a piece of armour that no longer serves us if we know deep down that it’s the best thing we need to do.
I’m ready for season 3!!
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The Hidden Impact of Adoption: Adoption and Attachment - The Primal Wound.
The primal wound occurs when a postnatal separation from the biological mother imprints the infant with a sense of abandonment and loss. The nine month bond with the biological mother - her smell, feel, taste and sound - are all gone. The loss of the child's primordial loving, caring and protective relationship can be indelibly imprinted on the unconscious mind as a traumatic injury (Verrier 2015a). According to this view adoption trauma is an "unclaimed experience" and a "physical wound" that implants itself in the psychology of the adoptee.
Siegel's (2012) The Developing Mind suggests how powerful these types of prenatal memories can be in the neurobiology of the developing infant. He describes them as "implicit memories" which are developed and reactivated deep in one's unconscious. The adopted infant's brain synapses began connecting according to a perception of the environment as unsafe, scary and in need of vigilance. Without the care and attention of family and mental health professionals that such a trauma deserves, the primal wound might influence the way an adoptee acts, feels and believes "without recognition of the influence of past experience on one's present reality." (Siegel 2012, pg52)
https://www.family-institute.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/csi_drustrup_hidden_impact_of_adoption.pdf
#theprimalwound #nancyverrier #forcedadoption #adoptiontrauma #implicitmemory #memoryloss #seperatedatbirth #adoptionpodcast #myunknowntruth
NSW
As the needs of children vary greatly, Department of Communities and Justice needs to choose families based on the individual child’s needs.
Married couples, couples living in a de facto relationship, people with or without other children and single people can apply.
The casework team considers:
* an applicant’s capacity to meet the emotional, psychological, physical and social needs of the child
* an applicant’s health and it’s impact on their ability to care for the child into their adult years
* the length and stability of the applicants’ married or de facto relationship (heterosexual or same sex) if applicable (the minimum length of relationship required is two years)
* an applicant’s age, to ensure they can care for the child into their adult years as required
* the number and ages of the other children in the family
* the readiness of the applicant to adopt
* an applicant’s good character and repute.
DCJ needs to match the child’s needs, care demands and background with the long-term parents’ capacity to parent, their understanding of the child’s disability or care needs, their expectations and own needs, and the needs of any other children in the family.
This ensures they find each child a safe and stable home for life - a forever family.
If you are interested in finding out more about the adoption of a child with special care needs, contact:
Adoption Service
02 9716 3003
[email protected]
Alternatively, you can also contact Anglicare, which is the other approved agency for special needs adoptions:
Anglicare Adoption Services
02 9890 6855
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/adoption/adopting-a-child/children-with-special-care-needs
#adoptingchildrenwithdisabilities #adoptingchildrenfromhardplaces #adoptionstoriesmatter #adoptioninaustralia #adoptionjourney #adoptioncanbebeautiful #adoptionexperience #australianadoptionpodcast #myunknowntruth
Epigenetic inheritance is an unconventional finding. It goes against the idea that inheritance happens only through the DNA code that passes from parent to offspring. It means that a parent’s experiences, in the form of epigenetic tags, can be passed down to future generations.
The challenges of proving Epigenetic Inheritance is not always straightforward.
Researchers must:
1. Rule out the possibility of genetic changes eg: in organisms with larger genomes, a single mutation can hide like a needle in a haystack.
2. Show that the epigenetic effect can pass through enough generations to rule out the possibility of direst exposure; meaning in a pregnant mother, three generations are directly exposed to the same environmental conditions at the same time. An epigenetic effect that continues into the 4th generation could be inherited and not due to direct exposure. Therefore, an epigenetic change must be observed in the 4th generation.
Researchers face the added challenge that epigenetic changes are transient by nature. That is, the epigenome changes more rapidly that the relatively fixed DNA code. An epigenetic change that was triggered by environmental conditions may be reversed when environmental conditions change again.
Thoughts?
#epigenetics #epigenetics_revolution #epigeneticsandpregnancy #epigeneticshealth
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What or who is holding you to ransom? Who has allowed that, where are you stuck and what can you do about it?
Interestingly, most of the time, you are standing in your own way.
Taking a dip in the ocean or walking can be a great way to clear the mind and to quietly take stock of one’s life and look at where you might be leaking energy.
Nikki Bush, Human Potential Expert; helping you to win at work and life suggests to write down all the things that hold you back, things that steal your power, your energy, your independence, your impact on others.
Then, next to that list, create an “Action” column and ask yourself the following questions:
• So, how’s that working for you?
• It’s causing me to feel, think and behave like ….
• What will you choose to do about it now?
• What is the action steps to help your situation/relationships improve?
Sometimes, it’s the story you are telling yourself that things are difficult or are insurmountable, that is getting in your way. Each of us changes the world one choice at a time, one minute at a time, one step at a time.
No-one and nothing can hold you ransom without your permission. Things get in your way or become difficult because you allow them to. Get them out of your head to diffuse their power and take action.
#adoptionstories #adoptionsupport #adoptiontherapy #adoptionpodcast #adoptionjourney #adoptionexperience #laynebeachley
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If you’re adopted, you may get to a stage in life like Jonah, where you want to find your birth parents. A lot of people do; it’s perfectly normal. You can get help in making the decision, as well as support for working through anything it brings up. There are also resources available to help you track down your birth parents.
If you’re adopted, you may feel the need to get a fuller picture of yourself by finding out about your birth family.
Whatever you feel, it’s okay! 🧡
Sometimes the desire to connect with your birth parents happens the moment you find out you’re adopted. Or an important life event, such as leaving home or getting married, may prompt you to begin asking questions about your birth parents. You may also feel comfortable with never knowing who your birth parents are, and that’s okay, too.
Deciding to find your birth parents is a big decision, and it’s normal to be worried about how it will go. Take into account your emotional wellbeing as well as your mental health, and wait until you feel strong enough to cope with any outcome, as things can get pretty emotional.
If you feel that you’re ready to start looking, make sure you have a good support network, whether it’s your adoptive parents, a friend, counsellor or psychologist.
Resources to help you
Post Adoption Resource Centre
Phone: 02 9504 6788
Offers help to people looking for relatives, and support to those who have made the decision to get in touch with family members.
Jigsaw
Offers help, support and information for people who are adopted. Check out the process for finding your birth parents in each state.
What can I do now?
Talk to a counsellor about finding your birth parents.
Get in touch with family services.
Talk to your adoptive parents about your interest in finding your birth parents.
https://au.reachout.com/articles/finding-your-birth-parents
#adoptionstoriesmatter #adoptionpodcast #myunknowntruth #adoptionaustralia #adoptionqld #adoptionjourn
“… with human relationships we can both create and destroy, nurture and terrorise, traumatise and heal each other.
Ultimately, what determines how children survive trauma, physically, emotionally or psychologically, is whether the people around them - particularly the adults they should be able to trust and rely upon - stand by them with love, support and encouragement”.
Dr Bruce Perry (2006)
@tammyrichie
#adoptionstories #adoptioninaustralia #adoptionpodcast #adoptionjourney #adoptionandhealing #empathy #tonyrobbins #adoptionstoriesmatter
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https://www.linkupnsw.org.au/
Who are Link-Up (NSW)?
Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation was founded in 1980 to assist all Aboriginal people who had been directly affected by past government policies; being separated from their families and culture through forced removal, being fostered, adopted or raised in institutions.
Link-Up (NSW) supports the healing journeys of those removed; delivering professional, culturally sensitive and confidential research, reunions and Social, Emotional and Wellbeing services to those over the age of eighteen.
National Sorry Day or the National Day of Healing, has been held annually in Australia on 26 May since 1998 to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of our country's indigenous peoples as part of an ongoing process of reconciliation.
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. This year's National Reconciliation Week theme is 'Be a Voice for Generations' - urging all Australian's to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation, to create a better, more just Australia for all of us.
@monique_pangari
#adoptionstoriesmatter #adoption #adoptionpodcast #stolengeneration #stolengenerations #ancestryresearch #nationalreconciliationweek #nationalsorryday #linkup #indigenousaustralia
Thank you @felicity__official__ @fostering_change_australia_ for sending this through for a share. So very deserving of this award and recognition of all your hard work over the last 5 years. You have shown how to rise above adversity, share your story in a way that promotes action and change and paving the way for kids in care. Keep up the amazing and inspiring work. X
#fostercare #fostercarestories #fostercareaustralia #adoptionpodcast #fostercareawareness #childadvocacy #childrightsaustralia #fosteringchangeaustralia
Psychological Issues Faced by Adopted Children and Adults.
It is very common for those who were adopted to feel rejected and abandoned by their birth parents. This is accompanied by feelings of grief and loss. There is no set time or age when these feelings surface but, sooner or later, they do. In Jan’s case it resurfaces any time she wishes to make contact with her siblings, she needs to process these feelings of rejection, as it stems from her adoption and the experiences she had with her birth mother, Ellen. Feelings of loss and rejection are often accompanied by a damaged sense of self-esteem. For Jan, her siblings and the contact she makes with them, has largely been well received.
#adoption #adoptionjourney #adoptionstory #adoptionstories #adoptionpodcast #adoptionreunion #adoptionnewzealand #adoptionawareness
