About Andy

Hi, I’m Andy Wallis, I live in Grantham, in the UK, where Sir Isaac Newton was educated and Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was born and raised.

I was adopted at just a few months old in 1973.

I have struggled throughout my life with my mental health, so in 2023 I decided to start a blog to explore my inner workings. I soon came to realise that most of what I’ve dealt with has its origins in my adoption. I was shocked.

Adoption trauma manifests itself in lots of ways it would seem. From the obvious emotional stuff like anxiety, depression, and closing down emotionally, to the less obvious social quirks like refusing to do something fun because it wasn't the adoptee's idea. Weird as it might seem, I can recall lots of moments in my past where I've just flatly refused an activity or outing for fear of losing the element of sovereignty. 

The blogs here on the site are my mind dump, It helps to write. They are heavily influenced by adoption trauma, and mental health, but can sometimes be completely unrelated. Deciding what to write is like deciding what to eat, one day it could be a nice juicy steak, then again it could be fish and chips, or even a spicy curry, It is all food for thought for me.

From the blog, Who’s Wally? the book was born While writing I studied to gain a qualification in Mental Health, and I’m now also a mental health first aider.

I’m passionate about raising awareness of adoption trauma and mental health generally.

If my exploration and sharing of my discoveries helps you as a reader to find a few tasty brain food morsels to chew on, then all the better.

And, if you fancy it, get in touch, either via my contact form or the Who’s Wally e-mail address.

Thank you for visiting. It’s good to see y’ face!

P.S. Smiling in photos isn’t my thing!