Emily Newcombe, a 32-year-old woman from Barnsley, has shared her harrowing journey with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which has led to over 90 debilitating daily rituals. These include a 16-hour phone routine, using a bucket for urination, and repeatedly driving around roundabouts five times. Her condition has significantly impacted her life, making even simple tasks like showering or going to the toilet extremely challenging.
Emily first noticed symptoms of OCD when she was just six years old on Christmas Day. She spent four hours in her room straightening her duvet cover and arranging her teddies. When her family came over for dinner, her parents tried to get her to come downstairs. They stripped the bed and moved the teddies, which caused Emily immense distress. At the time, her parents thought it was just a phase, but as she grew older, her symptoms worsened.
As a child, Emily would spend hours at school arranging her book bags and folders in specific patterns. She would often be late for class because she had to make sure the blinds were straight. Eventually, her teachers began to notice her behavior and suggested she might have OCD, although she was never given a formal diagnosis. Her symptoms continued to affect her friendships, with many of her friends finding her behavior strange and eventually disappearing from her life.
By the time she was an adult, Emily’s OCD had become so severe that she could no longer use the shower or go to the toilet. She had to urinate in a bucket outside because the ritual of going to the bathroom became too intense. She also had to dress and undress herself multiple times until it felt “just right,” making daily life a constant struggle.
In September 2024, Emily was admitted to Kendray Hospital for 12 weeks of intensive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Although the therapy helped slightly, her symptoms persisted after she returned home. She now has a daily “phone ritual” that takes 16 hours to complete. This involves standing in one position for hours, measuring certain items, and pressing specific buttons on her phone repeatedly until it feels right. The ritual has caused her foot to swell and become extremely sore.
Emily’s condition has left her feeling like a recluse, having lost many friends due to the challenges of her OCD. However, she has one friend who understands and supports her. In March 2026, she consulted Professor David Veale, a renowned OCD expert, who recommended exposure response prevention (ERP) treatment. This therapy helps individuals confront anxiety-provoking thoughts by gradually exposing them to their fears without performing the compulsions.
Despite the potential benefits of ERP, the treatment is costly, with sessions priced at up to £4,000 per week. Emily cannot currently afford this therapy, leaving her to manage her symptoms on her own. Her story highlights the profound impact of OCD on daily life and the urgent need for accessible and affordable treatment options.
Emily’s experience with OCD began in childhood, marked by repetitive behaviors that intensified over time. She recalls spending hours on Christmas Day arranging her bedding and toys, a habit that her family initially dismissed as a phase. As her symptoms progressed, they began to interfere with her education and social life. Teachers noticed her unusual behaviors, such as arranging her books in specific patterns, but no formal diagnosis was given.
The impact of her OCD extended beyond school, affecting her relationships. Friends found her behavior strange and eventually drifted away, leaving Emily feeling isolated. She described needing to tap tables a certain number of times before it felt right or lining up coke bottles when going out for a drink. Only one friend remained by her side, offering support and understanding.
OCD is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Emily has what is known as perfectionism OCD, or “just right” OCD, where individuals feel intense discomfort unless things are “just right.” This leads to repetitive actions such as rearranging objects, tapping, or retyping. For Emily, these behaviors have become a significant part of her daily life, making it difficult to engage in normal activities.
Her condition reached a critical point in 2024 when her symptoms worsened dramatically. She could no longer take a shower or use the toilet, leading her to use a bucket outside. She also had to repeat dressing and undressing until it felt correct, making everyday tasks extremely challenging. By September 2024, Emily had over 90 rituals that made daily life impossible, forcing her to stop driving and avoid places like supermarkets.
Emily was finally diagnosed with OCD at age 30 after being admitted to Kendray Hospital for 12 weeks of intensive CBT. While the therapy provided some relief, her symptoms persisted, leading to the 16-hour phone ritual that now dominates her day. She stands in one place for hours, measuring items and pressing buttons on her phone until it feels right. This has caused physical discomfort, including swollen and sore feet.
In March 2026, Emily met with Professor David Veale, who recommended ERP treatment. This approach involves confronting anxiety-provoking thoughts without engaging in compulsions. However, the high cost of ERP makes it inaccessible for Emily, leaving her to continue managing her symptoms independently.
