Belonging and Healing: An Adoptee’s Mental Health Story

What if the story of adoption held both rescue and rupture at the very same time? We sit down with Ayrton Beatty, who was placed for adoption after three months in foster care, to talk candidly about identity, attachment, and why language like “placed” instead of “given up” can change how a life is understood. Ayrton walks us through learning the painful truth of their origins, navigating sealed records, and reaching out to a birth mother who carried her own trauma—and how compassion sometimes means choosing not to force contact that others may not be ready for.

Across our conversation, we unpack the science of early attachment and the higher risk of mental health challenges among adoptees, including borderline personality disorder and PTSD. Ayrton shares what therapy has looked like in practice, from “all inclusive” counseling to surreal nightmares, and how trust becomes a skill rebuilt over time after abuse. We also explore the reality of medical unknowns: what happens when a clinician asks for family history you don’t have, how a medication triggered Long Q-T Syndrome, and the vigilance required when genetic information is missing. Along the way, DNA testing complicates and enriches identity—German and Jewish ancestry within an Irish-rooted adoptive family—proving that belonging can be layered without being false.

This is a nuanced, humane portrait of adoption that holds joy and grief together. You’ll hear why Ayrton still believes adoption saves lives, even as it leaves scars—and how humor, clear words, and steady support can help an adoptee feel seen. If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who needs nuance, subscribe for more thoughtful stories, and leave a review to help others find the show.

In this message, Michael shares what it meant to our team to hear about Fonda Miller's passing.