He is known for regularly saying, “Don’t touch me!” Howie Mandel stunned everyone in September 2023 when he tightly embraced Reba McEntire on The Voice stage. The comedian, who has a crippling phobia of germs, succumbed to his enthusiasm and was unable to resist the magnetic draw of the country music singer. Mandel appears vibrant and cheerful in the limelight, but off-screen, he reveals that he is a “scared” guy who likes to dwell “in the fetal position.” He just made a surprising statement about how he controls his OCD, leading him to “absolute hell.”
The horror of the worldwide epidemic reawakened many people’s germaphobic instincts, raising awareness of the hazards of contamination. Many people’s fear of germs only lasts a few years, but for others, it is constant and debilitating. “There isn’t a waking moment in my life when ‘we could die’ doesn’t cross my mind,” says Howie Mandel, who has suffered from severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since he was a youngster. Speaking with People, the 68-year-old TV personality admits that the epidemic was particularly triggering. “But knowing that everyone else was fine would provide me with some comfort.
It’s beneficial to hang on, okay? However, throughout the epidemic, the entire world was in turmoil. And that was pure hell.” The Mayo Clinic defines OCD as “a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions.” These obsessions cause you to engage in repetitive actions, also known as compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily tasks and create significant suffering. “I’m living in a nightmare,” says the Canadian-born comedian.
“I attempt to anchor myself.” I have a beautiful family,” Mandel says of his wife Terry (married in 1980) and their three children, Alex, Riley, and Jackie. “I love what I do.” However, I sometimes fall into a deep despair from which I cannot recover. Laughter is the greatest medicine! Mandel, who made his name on the hospital drama St. Elsewhere in 1982, admits that every day is difficult, but his sense of humor helps him get through it. “Finding humor is my coping mechanism. If I don’t laugh, I weep. I still haven’t disclosed how dark and terrible it can get.” Mandel admits that he utilizes humor to escape the hazardous pull of OCD, saying, “I’m most comfortable onstage. When I’m bored, I withdraw, which is unhealthy.” Mandel brings his exceptional sense of humor to every job, including serving as a judge on America’s Got Talent (AGT) and presenting several other series. ‘Incredibly drugged’ In 2022, he spoke frankly about his mental health struggles during an appearance on Kelly Clarkson’s talk program. “I’m neurotic and have OCD…”People assume I’m having fun because I’m out in public. I am afraid. “I like to go home and just stay in the fetal position,” he told the presenter.
Clarkson was surprised by Mandel’s alter ego, who lives outside the spotlight, and said, “It’s so funny to me because every time I’m around you, even seeing you out of work—you’re so the opposite of what I would think.” “I know, I’m such a joy; I’m a light; I’m an energy; and I’m stunning,” Mandel said with a smile. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m incredibly medicated.” Hugging Reba That prescription may have fueled his excitement when he saw Reba McEntire on The Voice stage. Leaping from the audience and yelling her name, Mandel raced up to the country music maestro, who was a panelist on the show, and said, “We’re right next door shooting the AGT finale.” “Would you sign my shirt?” After signing his “I [heart] Reba” shirt, Mandel surprised spectators by fiercely hugging McEntire. “You don’t see that every day,” Carson Daly, the show’s host, said of the guy, who usually avoids physical contact. Mandel acknowledges his peculiar behavior, saying, “People notice contradictions, especially in the media.’ Indeed, he may have embraced someone or shook someone’s hand. I can shake your hand. But then I would fear I hadn’t washed it thoroughly enough. I’d wash my hands in a continuous cycle for hours.” Committed to continuing the debate about mental health, he adds, “I recognize the humor in it. But it doesn’t mean it’s not excruciatingly painful. I don’t want to defend my mental health. I just want to keep it.” Mandel’s mild COVID contract in 2022, a result of his “vaxxed” and “boosted” immunity, demonstrates that fear of infection is insufficient to ensure your safety.
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