Navigating Relationships as an Adoptee

Description:
In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Noelle, Lia, and Tosha explore the complexities of navigating relationships as adoptees. From dating to friendships and family dynamics, they discuss how adoption trauma, abandonment issues, and people-pleasing tendencies impact their ability to connect with others. The conversation delves into why adoptees may struggle to feel secure in relationships and why educating partners and friends is so important. They also provide advice for those looking to build healthy relationships with adoptees.

In this episode, we cover:

(01:03) Sharing adoption status with partners and how it affects relationships.
(03:25) Lia discusses the difficulty of explaining estranged family relationships.
(04:05) Noelle reflects on fear of abandonment and its impact on introducing partners to family.
(06:26) The burden of educating partners and the need for them to educate themselves.
(07:51) Noelle’s positive experience of having a partner who actively learns about adoption.
(09:16) The struggle of being a people pleaser due to adoption trauma.
(12:22) Lia’s struggle to believe people truly care about her and feeling disposable.
(14:17) Noelle’s difficulty with bonding and having few deep relationships.
(15:45) The pressure to constantly put others first and ignore one's own needs.
(18:08) Noelle struggles to assert herself and avoid making others uncomfortable.
(19:05) Lia’s experience with friends not understanding how deeply adoption affects her.
(21:02) Lia’s attempt to address trauma with her adoptive parents and how it went poorly.
(22:55) The challenge of confronting adoptive parents about trauma and lack of accountability.
(24:51) The most challenging aspects of navigating relationships as an adoptee.
(28:08) Advice for those looking to build healthy relationships with adoptees.

Call To Action:

• Website: adopteescrossinglines.com
• Instagram: @adopteescrossinglines
• BlueSky: adopteecrossing.bsky.social
• TikTok: @adopteescrossinglines_
• Substack: Adoptees Crossing Lines Substack

Resource:
Peer Support Space - A free global online peer support group for those who survived the system as kids. Register here.

Work With Me:
Email: [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Editing by Samuel Oyedele:
Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast. Support his work on Instagram or email him at [email protected].