On Fire

"I set fire to the house. I couldn't stop myself. I knew it was wrong. I knew it was dangerous, but it was such a strong compulsion that I had to do it. As I stood and watched it burn, I felt all the stress and tension just melt away in the heat of the flames. It was such a release. In all the commotion and panic going on around me, I felt so calm and detached, yet no one suspected I could have done such a terrible thing." Matt Reagan

I spoke to Matt on a secure ward in a psychiatric hospital where he receives treatment for his pyromania. Although he is extremely dangerous, he is not considered a criminal like an arsonist or terrorist. He has a disorder where he simply cannot resist the implusive desire to start fires. Pyromania falls into a subset of other obsessive-compulsive behaviour ranging from a simple cry for help and attention seeking to people who are severely psychotic or paranoid. Treatment usually consists of a combination of medication and psychotherapy, but the prognosis for those diagnosed with pyromania is generally poor. There are no figures of recovery rates available and although still comparatively rare, these conditions are a growing social and economic problem.

ON FIRE

Seeing is believing

So try to understand

And put yourself in my shoes

I played into your hands

A baptism of fire

Fire

A baptism of fire

Fire

Tricked me in a heartbeat

I never stood a chance

On fire

Fire

Try to cast your mind back

Lazing in the sun

All the days were numbered

Living on the run

A baptism of fire

Fire

A baptism of fire

Fire

Cos beggars can't be choosers

You've got to take the heat

On Fire

Fire

Standing at the crossroads

Back against the wall

Slipping through your fingers

Pride before a fall

A baptism of fire

Fire

A baptism of fire

Fire

Thought I’d gone to heaven

But I found myself in hell

On Fire

Fire