There can be a gulf between what someone needs and desires from a reunion with genetic relatives and what is feasible and possible for a healthy, long-term relationship. Mental illness and mental health challenges can be a factor that complicates the reunion process for some individuals who are involved in an adoption constellation. In today’s guest post, late-discovery adoptee (LDA) Julia shares about her experience connecting with her birth mother and recognizing her birth mother’s undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues. Every person’s journey is unique.

Adopted and interested in starting a search? We’ve gathered more detailed information for you here and identified places to go for more. Two paths—the DNA-first route and the records-first route—are the main paths adoptees use today to begin a search for biological relatives.

On today's episode, Glaser talks with DNA Clarity and Support host Brianne Kirkpatrick about the history of coerced adoption in the United States and the influence of culture and stigma on women who in other circumstances might have chosen to parent rather than surrender their to the adoption system.

John’s story starts with a personal medical crisis leading to a decision to search for information about his biological parentage. It ends with him embracing the truth of his biological origins, a situation that many others in the same shoes have struggled to accept because of society’s stigma around conceptions between parents who are related to each other.

I was adopted as a child and my birth mother never told my father about me—she only knew his first name, so there really wasn’t a way to find him anyhow. I was able to identify him through DNA testing and reached out.

DNA tests come in many varieties and sizes. 23andMe’s test comes in three versions, and beyond that you can find other tests that might tell you things 23andMe’s genotype analysis does not.

I’m adopted and know the identities of my birth mother and father, but the biological siblings on my paternal side don’t know about me yet. My children are encouraging me to reach out. What should I do?

Here’s some advice I’ve gathered for those who are considering or already have involved DNA testing in an adoption-related search.

This YouTube video went up a few days ago, created and posted by an adoptee named Blake who experienced GSA after reuniting with a biological parent (father/same-sex parent in his case).

Are you hoping to locate biological family via records search, DNA testing, or possibly both?