my mother chose to protect my life and find a family that would raise me as their own. We talked for two straight hours where I discovered, to my surprise, that I had a younger brother and two younger sisters. She sweetly said, 'Hello?' My halting response of, 'Mom' left the line dead for what seemed like hours. In that moment, my heart nearly stopped when I heard my momma's voice for the first time. With emotions overflowing, I dialed that number on Mother's Day 2003. Thanks to this man's help and some information from my parents, I was able to track down the mediator who had connected my birth mother with my adopted parents. As part of the Special Forces unit, I had access to an individual whose civilian job was in private investigation.

Seven years later, I was in the Army stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. My halting response of, 'Mom' left the line dead for what seemed like hours. Who was this woman? What might she be like? Did she share my gregarious personality? Because I could tell that my dad was uncomfortable with this conversation, I asked little about my birth mother over the next few years yet my heart yearned for more information. He explained that I was adopted, that my birth mother had extenuating circumstances that made her feel that I would be better off with a family that would be able to better care for me. That day, I a sked my dad why I was so different from the rest of my family.

In stark contrast, the rest of my family was shorter, pale, and had personalities completely different than mine. I was twelve years old, tan, lean, and quite tall for my age. Learn how parents, doctors and psychiatrists were able to help each of these young people cope with their disorders and achieve their individual potential.Rebecca's Adoption Testimony. Carissa, who was sent home from summer camp because of her tics and echolalia.Tony, whose undiagnosed and untreated ADHD led him into drug and alcohol abuse.Kelly, a child with mental retardation who needed schooling but couldn't stay in her classroom because she banged her head against the walls.Tracy, who refused to hug or kiss her parents or even look them in the eye.With promising discoveries and developments in psychiatric drug treatments, doctors now have more ways than ever to help patients with childhood and adolescent disorders. However, young people who must balance a mental disorder with other stresses, like schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, social pressures, and physical changes, may face additional challenges coping with mental disorders. Dealing with the issues that surround mental disorders can be difficult for anyone. For example, some mental disorders, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are more common in children and adolescents than in adults. But specific mental disorders may be more likely to affect certain groups of people than other groups. Mental disorders can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

Choice Summer by Shirley Brinkerhoff