About the Author Lily Bailey

Lily Bailey is a writer and advocate who has lived with OCD since childhood. In Because We Are Bad, she draws from her own experiences to create an authentic narrative that balances vulnerability with resilience. Her perspective has been praised by therapists and readers alike for providing a rare, first-person account of the disorder. Bailey’s work contributes to important conversations about mental health, stigma, and recovery.

Why Read a Memoir About OCD?

Personal narratives are among the most powerful tools for building empathy and understanding. A memoir like Bailey’s goes beyond statistics and symptoms, offering a window into the lived experience of OCD. For those with the condition, it can be a lifeline—a reminder that they are not alone. For family, friends, and professionals, it provides invaluable insight into what their loved ones or clients may be going through. Disability memoirs, especially those focusing on mental health, help destigmatize conditions and foster a more compassionate society.

Key Themes Explored in the Book

The Inner World of OCD: Bailey details the intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals that dominate her life, revealing the exhausting mental loop that many with OCD face. Her descriptions are vivid and often stark, making the condition tangible for outsiders.

Recovery and Therapy: The memoir follows Bailey’s progression through therapy, particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP). She doesn’t shy away from the difficulties of treatment, but also shows how small steps lead to meaningful change.

Isolation and Connection: OCD can be profoundly isolating. Bailey’s narrative explores the struggle to maintain relationships and the relief of finding community—whether through therapy, loved ones, or simply knowing others share similar experiences.

Self-Compassion: A central thread is learning to be kind to oneself despite the constant self-criticism that OCD often brings. The title, Because We Are Bad, reflects the shame many feel, but the book ultimately points toward acceptance and hope.

What Makes This OCD Memoir Stand Out?

In Because We Are Bad: OCD and a Girl Lost in Thought, Lily Bailey delivers a deeply personal and unflinching account of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This memoir offers readers an inside view of the relentless, often absurd thoughts that characterize OCD, while also chronicling the author’s journey toward understanding and recovery. Bailey’s honest storytelling resonates with anyone who has experienced mental health challenges—or sought to understand them.

Unlike clinical descriptions, this book immerses you in the daily reality of OCD. Readers have described it as both painful and eye-opening, highlighting how it captures the tension between the mind’s irrational demands and the desire for a normal life. It’s a powerful addition to the disability memoir genre, shedding light on a condition that is often misunderstood.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is ideal for anyone affected by OCD, whether personally or through a loved one. It’s also a compelling read for students and professionals in psychology, social work, or counselling. Additionally, fans of honest, introspective memoirs—such as those by Sarah Manguso or Andrew Solomon—will appreciate Bailey’s voice. The book has been recommended by therapists as a tool for understanding OCD from the inside out.

Because We Are Bad is a raw, poignant, and ultimately hopeful memoir that contributes meaningfully to the conversation around mental health and disability.