Secondary trauma in the context of adoption refers to the emotional, psychological, and physical distress experienced by those who are indirectly exposed to the trauma of others.

For adoptive parents, social workers, therapists, and anyone involved in the adoption process, secondary trauma can occur when they hear about, witness, or work closely with expectant parents who are creating an adoption plan or when working with children who have been through traumatic experiences. These individuals may develop symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even though they were not directly involved in the traumatic events themselves.

Secondary trauma can also affect extended family members of the expectant parent. Many times, relatives feel helpless that they are not able to help the expectant parent. They feel they have failed as they can’t help the parent with sobriety, stable housing, or securing employment. The feelings of grief for the biological family can extend far beyond the expectant parents. 

More often of late, secondary trauma can occur from seeing babies go through withdraw symptoms due to in-utero drug exposure and experiencing long NICU stays due to prematurity. In addition, infant mortality rates are increasing because of these as well. 

Examples of secondary trauma in adoption include:

1. Adoptive parents who hear about the expectant mothers’ or child’s difficult past (abuse, neglect, or loss) may feel deep distress, guilt, or even a sense of helplessness about the experiences. Over time, this emotional burden can weigh on their own mental health.
2. Professionals working in adoption (social workers, counselors, or therapists) may experience secondary trauma through repeated exposure to the trauma stories of expectant mothers in desperate situations such homelessness, drug addiction, and domestic violence situations, often leading to burnout, compassion fatigue, or emotional withdrawal.
3. Extended Family who did not directly experience the traumatic event, may experience distress, guilt, sadness, or anxiety, often resulting from the pain of the child’s separation from the biological family.

Signs of secondary trauma can include:

• Emotional symptoms: Feelings of anxiety, sadness, or irritability, or having difficulty managing emotions.
• Cognitive symptoms: Trouble concentrating, or intrusive thoughts about the child’s trauma or difficult cases.
• Physical symptoms: Fatigue, insomnia, or other stress-related physical issues.
• Behavioral symptoms: Withdrawal from social interactions or feeling emotionally numb.

Adoptive families, extended family, and professionals who experience secondary trauma should prioritize self-care and seek support when needed. Therapy, peer support groups, and education about the impacts of secondary trauma are important ways to manage and heal from these effects.