According to SWNS reporting, 22-year-old London resident Daniela Barroso spent three months unable to leave her house while convinced she had pushed someone off a bridge, representing an extreme escalation of obsessive-compulsive disorder that began when she was eight years old.
The Early Manifestations and Subtypes of OCD
Barroso first experienced symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder at the age of eight, washing her hands up to 30 times an hour, according to SWNS. Over the years, she believes she has experienced almost every sub-type of OCD. When she was 14, she developed religious OCD, feeling compelled to kiss every statue of Jesus and Mary in her house before leaving. By the time she worked in a supermarket, she developed an extreme aversion to the numbers three and six, avoiding aisles bearing those numbers because she viewed them as “devil numbers,” as reported by SWNS.
Did you know? Barroso spent hundreds of pounds buying a new toothbrush after every single use, according to SWNS data.
Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsive Recording
In November 2024, Barroso developed intense intrusive thoughts, becoming constantly convinced she had caused harm to someone or uttered awful things to friends, according to SWNS. To ascertain reality, she began recording every moment of her life—including trips to the toilet—yet still struggled to believe the footage was genuine. Her mum had to stand outside the bathroom to ensure she did not do anything harmful while alone, as reported by SWNS.
Therapy Disruptions and Escalating Symptoms
Barroso began taking sertraline in October 2022 and started cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy in December 2022, which successfully helped her symptoms, according to SWNS. However, after three months, the work-funded sessions stopped, and she discontinued her medication due to migraines. Her condition deteriorated, leading her to smoke and drink heavily to calm her symptoms, before everything “came crashing down” in November 2024. She dropped out of university in December 2024, moved back in with her parents, and has not left the house since March, according to SWNS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common signs of severe OCD?
Severe OCD is characterized by debilitating obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors such as excessive hand washing until bleeding, extreme avoidance of perceived contamination, and distressing intrusive thoughts of causing harm, according to SWNS reporting on Barroso’s case.
How does exposure therapy help treat OCD?
Exposure therapy confronts patients directly with their feared triggers in a controlled environment—such as walking down avoided supermarket aisles—to help reduce anxiety over time, according to SWNS.
What support is currently available for severe OCD sufferers?
Treatment typically involves antidepressants, cognitive behavioural therapy, and specialized exposure therapy, though patients often face long waiting lists for services through providers like the NHS, according to SWNS.
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