When it concerns Howie Mandel, the primary idea that springs to mind is optimism and mirth.
As per IMDb, he commenced his journey in entertainment by sheer luck. An executive spotted him during an amateur evening at the Comedy Store on the L.A. Sunset Strip while on holiday following the persuasion of his buddies to give it a shot.
Presently, Mandel is among the most renowned figures in the realm of entertainment. A television luminary, scriptwriter, performer, producer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and well-liked game show panelist/host, Mandel has experimented with each field and proven his excellence in all of them.
Lately, however, he made the decision to reveal his mental condition and admitted that he has been combating anxiety, ADHD, and OCD for most of his life. The reality is that it’s hard to imagine that someone as amusing as Mandel could be grappling with such challenges.
“I’m ensnared in a nightmare,” he affirmed. “I strive to center myself. I cherish what I pursue and have a lovely family. Nonetheless, I also confront intense sorrow from which there seems to be no escape.”
This became even more challenging during the COVID-19 outbreak when we were mandated to stay indoors. Mandel disclosed to People magazine that not a day went by without the thought of “perishing” crossing his mind. Yet, the solace stemmed from the fact that no one close to him had been impacted.
Though he received the diagnosis in his thirties, Mandal understands he had OCD and ADHD since forever. However, he refrained from discussing his mental well-being openly as he feared it would negatively influence his career. “My initial response was that I had brought shame upon my family,” he confessed. “Then I realized no one would hire an individual who wasn’t steady. Those were my anxieties.”
The urges and fixations are highly distressing and obstruct everyday activities. “I seem to be trapped in a dreadful reverie,” the Canadian-born comic declared. “I strive to ground myself. Mandel commented, “I possess a wonderful family, comprising my wife Terry and their three kids, Riley, Jackie, and Alex. I adore my work. Nevertheless, I can occasionally endure phases of profound despondency from which I cannot recover.”
In a discussion on her chat show in 2022, he disclosed his mental health worries to Kelly Clarkson.
I grapple with OCD and am neurotic. Folks presume that just because I’m out and about, I’m having a blast and relishing myself. I’m petrified,” he divulged to the host. “I prefer to return home and just curl up in the fetal position.”
Clarkson replied, “It’s so amusing to me, as each time I encounter you, even outside of work… you’re the total opposite of what one would anticipate.”
Mandel chuckled, “I am aware, I radiate joy, I embody light, I exude energy, and I am striking. To be candid, I heavily rely on medication.
It was humor that aided him during the most arduous periods in his life.
“My coping mechanism involves discovering the comical,” he stated. “If I’m not grinning, chances are I’m weeping. And I have suppressed how dreadful and gloomy it truly gets. Comedy essentially rescued me. I feel remarkably comfortable on stage. And when I have no commitments, I withdraw, which is not beneficial.”
Mandel’s objective is to help enhance awareness about mental health problems and shatter the preconceived notions.
