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Because We are Bad : OCD and A Girl Lost in Thought - Lily Bailey

Because We are Bad

OCD and A Girl Lost in Thought

By: Lily Bailey

Hardcover | 13 May 2016

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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 ogled the bodies of other children.

Only by performing 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.

Candidly raw, this is a fascinating true story from a startlingly original voice. It illuminates the inner workings of the mind in the tradition of Mark Haddon and Matt Haig.

About the Author

Lily Bailey is a model and writer. She became a journalist in London in 2012, editing a news site and writing features and fashion articles for local publications including the Richmond Magazine and the Kingston Magazine. 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. Lily lives in London with her dog, Rocky.
Industry Reviews

'Often as chilling as Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, but also full of so much inner and external turbulence that it reminded me at times of The Bourne Identity and Memento. Readers will root for Lily, even when she is attempting to run away from the realities - and sometimes authorities - chasing her ... an intense heart-rending roller coaster of a book ... Because We Are Bad is the most engaging and well-written account of mental health experiences I have read and should be on the reading lists of courses for mental health professionals.'

- WILL BLACK, HUFFINGTON POST


'It's a fascinating read... Buy the book! Buy the book!'

- JO GOOD, BBC RADIO LONDON


'Remarkable... She writes with literary poise and a gift for mordant observation and self-deprecating humor that belie her youth. I hope this book finds a wide readership. It will offer solace to OCD sufferers who will understand that they are not alone and who might gain hope of remission; for other readers, it will provide a harrowing sense of what many OCD sufferers have to endure just to get through the day.'

- SCOTT STOSSEL, WASHINGTON POST


'A harrowingly honest memoir of profound psychological struggle. In her courageous book, the author offers compelling insight into the pain and destructive power of OCD as well as the resilience of a young woman determined to beat the odds.'

- KIRKUS REVIEWS


'London-based model and journalist Bailey offers an authentic and stunning account of her struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder in this beautifully-rendered memoir.'

- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY


'Because We Are Bad is an emotional, challenging read. Lily takes us deep into the heart of the illness but she is also a deft writer, and even the darkest moments are peppered with wit and wry observations.'

- JAMES LLOYD, OCD-UK


'A fascinating read. It's brilliantly written; I felt inside your head.'

- RAY D'ARCY SHOW, RTE RADIO 1


'I laughed, I cried. I could not put this book down. Intensely moving with flashes of black humour, Because We Are Bad is the compelling account of one young woman's experience of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.'

- ROSANNA GREENSTREET, FREELANCE JOURNALIST

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