But Wait, I have questions!
What is adoption trauma?
Adoption trauma describes the negative effects that can happen as part of being adopted. Early separation from birth parents, can, and does cause problems with attachment and bonding throughout a person’s life. This can cause depression and anxiety and an underlying mistrust of the world. this is often unrecognised by the adoptee for many years.
Why did you start the blog?
After a year of some dark and miserable times, I thought “Wally, enough is enough, this has gone on too long”. I've not thought about being adopted much, it's just something that happened to that child fifty years ago that I feel no connection to, I was wrong.
Although I feel very little connection with ‘David’ (my birth name), he still plays a very big part in my thinking and decision-making, so I started to look deeper into myself through blogging at the effects that adoption has on my tiny adoptee's brain. The more I discovered about adoption and its ‘trauma’, the more I saw it in me.
As I learned more about my mental health and its connection to my adoption, I felt it was important to share my findings with a view to perhaps helping other people going through similar struggles.
How has adoption trauma affected your life?
It affected me and my life in lots of weird ways, such as; never feeling part of a group, or finding getting close to people difficult to maintain. I feel like a fraud in almost every situation, and I tend to break my back to help people or say the right thing just to feel acceptance.
I get depressed and suffer weird moments of anxiety and I hate letting go of the gorilla grip I have on life for fear of losing control. I often feel trapped inside myself, holding myself back and that feeling is almost comforting.
What is social anxiety?
The NHS says - ‘Social anxiety is more than shyness. It's a fear that does not go away and affects everyday activities, self-confidence, relationships, and work or school life. Many people occasionally worry about social situations, but someone with social anxiety feels overly worried before, during, and after them.’
Sounds about right to me.
What is meant by attachment issues?
Attachment issues can cause people to fear abandonment in a relationship, as well as have deep feelings of inadequacy. It makes a person close down and push the other person away.
Where Can I buy ‘Who's Wally?’ the book?
Currently Amazon, available in Ebook (kindle), Hardcover, and Paperback.
Is there going to be an audiobook?
Yes! there will. I’m currently recording and producing it. Look out for it on Audible later this year (2023)
What is the podcast about?
About the Podcast.
Is feeling human eluding you sometimes? Us too. In this podcast, we chat together and invite others to share their experiences about life and the mental health issues that can consume us. Trying to be functioning human beings when being human feels difficult.