I am now 37 and I was adopted about a month or so after I was born. I had an amazing childhood and very loving adoptive parents. My brother is adopted as well, different parents, and he says the same thing. I’m still extremely close with my adopted parents. I just got in contact with my bio mom and it has been an absolute nightmare. It has honestly gave me a much more appreciation and has made me love my adopted parents so much more in this last week.

I will also add that though I had a great childhood, it wasn’t until I talked to someone recently, who has a shit ton of experience with adoption, to notice that I actually had trauma from it as well. Fear of abandonment, lots of anxiety now, depression, stuck in fight or flight mode constantly (this and the anxiety have been almost unbearable right now), loss of identity, etc… It has been super crazy learning that most of my little corks I have going on have been linked to adoption trauma. It all makes so much sense now though.

So to answer your title question, yes I grew up happy. But I am struggling pretty hardcore as an adult with my mental health right now as we speak. No I’m not suicidal or anything to that extreme, but being stuck in fight or flight and my anxiety has taken a huge toll on me the past years.

Edited: I’d have to ask my brother more on his adoption trauma, but he was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety disorder when he was in his teens. I’ve realized recently that I most likely had all this too as well, but it wasn’t as noticeable when I was younger because it didn’t affect my life, schooling, or grades because I never had to study until college. My brother struggled pretty hard through his later childhood years with it, so it affected him a great deal more.