There was no where to go with Agro phobia .
Housebound and chained up ,
She hid behind the sofa .
Her Mother suggested they go to therapy ,
which was almost like an impossibility .
The biggest journey began with just one small step .
Blindfolded she walked out to the edge of the gap .
From the front door to the letter box and then back .
Closely guarded by Mum in case of an attack .
Then a week later, she went without the blindfold .
To the letter box she walked alone , brave and bold .
The next step was a journey to group therapy .
She closed her eyes all the way so she wouldn’t see,
faces and things that would create panic for her .
Hand in hand she walked clinging on to her mother .
When she arrived she took a seat in front of me .
The worst kind of problems are those that we don’t see .
We all need help at times with things we’re going through .
We all spoke of things that we could and couldn’t do .
She sat there, looking down, as quiet as a mouse .
She was sixteen and terrified to leave her house .
Her mother sat with her holding on to her hand .
At the end of her wits, trying to understand .
No where to go except to therapy each week .
In time she grew strong and even started to speak .
Soon some of her worst fears began to go away .
In her therapy sessions now she had a say .
She came without chains and left all her ghosts at home .
She closed the door on them and never heard them moan .



By Paul McCann