Grantham author’s book ‘Who’s Wally?' explores the effects of adoption trauma based on his own experiences

A Grantham man has written his first book about being adopted and the effects on his mental health.

Andy Wallis, of Barrowby Gate, has published a book titled ‘Who’s Wally?’ based on his own experiences, which examines the impact of adoption trauma in his life.

The idea to write the book materialised after Andy started a blog on the matter under the same name, which has had over 6,000 views.

Andy said: “I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for many years as well as having some quite considerable issues in relationships.

“My partner suggested that a lot of what I deal with could have come from being adopted back in 1973, so we started to look into it.

“I was amazed at just how many adoptees around the world suffer the same as I have.

“I started to write about it in may this year, for my own self really. That became the Who’s Wally blog, which has been really successful.”

Andy explained that he wrote the book “extremely quickly, it just poured out”.

He added: “The writing has been extremely cathartic. I’ve really enjoyed it.

“I mean it’s been tough raking over my life in this way, but so rewarding too.

“I felt this book needed to be written to help me, as well as other adoptees perhaps unaware that their adoption is still playing a part in their lives or are silently going through stuff.”

Andy said that adoption trauma affects people all over the world in “so many ways”.

“A lot of adoptees become adults who suffer with issues such as anxiety and depression,” continued Andy.

“We feel unworthy and awkward in social situations and often choose to have a very small circle socially.

“Our underlying mistrust of the world starts right at the point we were given up for adoption and so subsequently find it difficult connecting with others, especially in relationships, as we subconsciously expect to be abandoned again by those that get close to us.

“There wasn't very much out there about this and mental health generally, from men, I guess because men still believe they have to be the strong ones.

“We put shelves up and fix the car, we don’t talk about our mental health.”

You can find the Who’s Wally book here, and Andy’s blog here.

The electronic version of the book is available on Amazon, and will soon be followed by paperback and hardback editions.