Post Adoption Depression (PAD) can creep in gradually, especially when parent-child relationships struggle. It can affect both the father and mother. There are many variables that impact PAD, such as unmet expectations, child has high medical or mental needs, mismatch in personalities, etc. With PAD a parent can find themselves going through the routine of meeting their child’s needs, however there are feelings of detachment. An example is feeling like one is caring for another person’s child. The long-awaited anticipation of the adoption can be a letdown when parenthood begins. AAPA suggests starting with the following resource, which summarizes the whole adoption process and its impact on the adoptive parents, specifically what leads up to PAD and things you can do to help yourself and your family: Impact of Adoption on Adoptive Parents: Child Welfare Information Gateway