You've written a brilliant profound article Melissa. Clear, showing logical connections which are entirely overlooked and dismissed. No wonder many adoptees struggle throughout their lives, and suppress reality, as the reality has been deeply hidden, and needs to be equally deeply "unhidden". When any psychological research is done, it's common practice to do in-depth surveys, such as qualitative research involving multiple questions asked to cohert, experimental and control groups. Yet adoptees are never ever consulted, just dictated to and have our narratives totally distorted, so that we no longer even recognise the reality and truth ourselves. You are a shining light of reality and truth seeker in the blurred distorted reality of adoption and fostering. We need strong clear voices like yours to help those affected really understand the enormous impact adoption has on our lives. When I hear people say "weren't you lucky to be adopted", or "I know many adopted people who had great lives", I realise how much this mentality is rampant in society.