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

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Pick Me Up Special

Pick Me Up Special3 min read
Poo Taboo
Going to the toilet in between chunks of revision, I was getting ready for my GCSE exams in September 2016. Only, when I went to the toilet, I saw blood in my stool. Oh, I must have strained too hard, I thought. It’ll fix itself. But I began noticing
Pick Me Up Special2 min read
Let’s Talk Dirty
It can feel a little awkward talking about IBD and there are some questions that you may not feel comfortable asking. Luckily Grace Baird, a Crohn’s & Colitis UK Nurse Specialist, is here to answer some of the most common queries. Please visit: crohn
Pick Me Up Special1 min read
Pick Me Up!
Editor: Hannah Poon. Features Editor: Hannah Crocker. Senior Writer: Anaïs Seely. Feature Writers: Kezia Reynolds and Flossie Palmer. Senior Designer: Georgia Macmenemey. Designer: Kate Martin. Junior Designer: Leah George. Chief executive Zillah Byn

Related Books & Audiobooks