Because We Are Bad - OCD and a Girl Lost in Thought

WASHINGTON POST TOP 50 NON-FICTION BOOK
PSYCHOLOGIES BOOK OF THE MONTH
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'Extremely compelling' – The Guardian
'Searing... funny, eloquent and honest' – Psychologies
'Remarkable... I hope this book finds a wide readership' – Washington Post
'A beautifully-rendered memoir' – Publishers Weekly

As a child, Lily Bailey knew she was bad.

By the age of 13, she had killed someone with a thought, spread untold disease, and spied upon her classmates.

Only by performing a series of secret routines could she correct her wrongdoing. But it was never enough. She had a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and it came with a bizarre twist.

Anyone who wants to know about OCD, and how to fight back, should read this book.

It is ideal for anyone who liked books by fellow OCD sufferers Bryony Gordon (Mad Girl, Glorious Rock Bottom), Rose Cartwright (Pure), and David Adam (The Man Who Couldn't Stop: The Truth About OCD).

A thrilling read, it has the pace of a TikTok bestseller and the visceral power of the best modern writing.

Extract

Chapter 1: Chesbury Hospital

From the outside, Chesbury Hospital in London looks like a castle that got lost and was plonked down in the wrong place. It is long and white, with battlements and arched windows from which princesses could call down, in the chapter before they are saved.

But it's not entirely believable. Where the portcullis should be, there are giant glass doors. Walk through them, and you could be in a five-star hotel. The man at reception wears a suit and tie and asks if he can help, like he's going to book you a table. A glass cupboard showcases the gifts sold by reception: bath oils, rejuvenating face cream, and Green & Black's chocolate, just in case you arrive empty-handed to see a crazy relative and need an icebreaker.

The walls, lampshades, window fittings, and radiators are all a similar, unnameable colour, somewhere between brown, yellow, and cream. A looping gold chandelier is suspended by a heavy chain; the fireplace has marble columns. The members of staff have busy, preoccupied faces—until they come close to you, when their mouths break into wide, fixed smiles.

Compared with the Harley Street clinic, there is a superior

choice of herbal teas. When the police arrived after the escape, Mum cried a lot; then she shouted. Now she has assumed a sense of British resolve. She queries: 'Wild Jasmine, Purple Rose, or Earl Grey?'

A nurse checks through my bag, which has been lugged upstairs. She takes the razor (fair enough), tweezers (sort of fair enough), a bottle of Baileys lying forgotten in the handbag (definitely fair enough), and headphones (definitely not fair enough). There would never be a hanging: far too much mess.

The observation room is next to the nurses' station; they keep you there until you are no longer a risk to yourself.

It is 10th January, 2013, and I am 19.

About the Author

Lily Bailey is a model, writer, and mental health campaigner.

As a child and teenager, Lily suffered from severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She kept her illness private, until the widespread misunderstanding of the disorder spurred her into action. She began campaigning for better awareness and understanding of OCD. Because We Are Bad is her first book. She has since written two books for children (When I See Blue and When I Feel Red) on mental health themes.

'It's a fascinating read... Buy the book! Buy the book!' – Jo Good, BBC Radio London