I think it does change your life - but your challenge is how can you allow yourself to be you despite your past circumstances.

I'm adopted. At 5-days old from the hospital. Older parents adopted me and dad died when I was 6yo and mom still is alive though we are 45 years apart in age. The challenge was her acting more like a grandmother in terms of her relationship with me, though she still is my mom. I'm greatful to have a family - but wonder what my original family of what I hear was 6 or possibly 7 siblings would have been like? I had it "easy" in this new family (less social issues) but I learned just that - less about social issues.

I have a friend in Ontario who adopted from an orphanage in China. Her daugher had some health problems - but they've addressed them I believe (haven't talked to her in a while).

Adoptive kids have to accept their situations - I didn't really understand or accept it fully when I was younger but really think it was for the better now. I had issues myself - shyness, fear of abandonment, fear of social situations, binge drinking but now I'm dealing with binge eating. Not great but I think I did get through a lot of my prior issues. By the time I'm 50, I should be fine