Pick Me Up! Special

My greatest FEAR

Staring at the plate in front of me, a wave of panic took over. Until suddenly, I was screaming in fear.

‘It’s OK,’ my mum Jackie, 30, soothed. ‘They’re just strawberries.’

At 5 years old, I’d been referred for play therapy after years of refusing to eat food.

It had started when I was just 6 months old. I’d spat out baby food, and screamed when my parents tried to get me to eat.

Now, in my first year of primary school, my diet was limited to just white bread, strawberry yoghurt and ready-salted crisps.

I didn’t know why, but any food that was coloured terrified me.

Concerned about my development, my doctor referred me to a child psychologist, who suggested play therapy might work.

The sessions, with other children

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WORDS BY ANAIS SEELY. STOCK IMAGE: GETTY ■

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