renowned for saying “don’t touch me” a lot. When Howie Mandel gave Reba McEntire a firm hug on The Voice stage in September 2023, it stunned everyone. The comedian caved in to his excitement and was unable to resist the country music star’s allure because he suffers from a crippling phobia of germs.
Mandel appears upbeat and joyful when he is in the spotlight, but when he is not, he discloses that he is a “scared” man who would rather live “in the fontal position.”
Furthermore, he just made a startling admission that disclosed how he controls the OCD that drives him to “absolute hell.”
Many people’s inner germaphobe was let loose by the horror of the global epidemic, making them more aware of the risks of contamination. While many people’s fear of germs passed after a few years, for others it remains crippling and never goes away.
“It is impossible for me to live a day in my life without thinking that we might not survive,” says Howie Mandel, a man who has experienced extreme anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) since he was a little child. The 68-year-old TV personality says the pandemic was particularly upsetting in an interview with People, saying, “But the comfort I would get would be the fact that everybody around me was okay.” It’s a good idea to hold on. However, everything in the world was not well throughout the pandemic. And it was just the worst.
OCD is defined as a “pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions” by the Mayo Clinic. These obsessions cause you to engage in compulsive behaviours, or repeating actions.
These compulsions and obsessions are very distressing and interfere with day-to-day tasks. “I’m in a bad dream,” declares the comedian who was born in Canada. “I attempt to ground myself. Mandel remarks, “I have a great family, including my wife Terry and their three children, Riley, Jackie, and Alex, who were married in 1980. “I adore what I do,” However, I can sometimes have periods of deep depression from which I cannot recover.
Mandel, who had his big break in 1982 on the hospital drama St. Elsewhere, says that although life is difficult every day, humour gets him through it. “I use humour as a coping mechanism.
I’m crying if I’m not laughing. I haven’t been transparent enough about how dark and terrible things truly get. Mandel continues, “I’m most at ease onstage,” adding that he utilizes humor to fend against the allure of OCD. And it’s not nice when I withdraw inside myself when I have nothing to do.
Mandel consistently finds time for projects, including hosting many shows and acting as a judge on the America’s Got Talent (AGT) franchise. He brings his unmatched sense of humor to every endeavor.
He opened up to Kelly Clarkson about his mental health concerns during a conversation they had on her talk show in 2022. “I have OCD and am neurotic. People believe that because I’m out and about, I’m having fun and enjoying myself. I’m terrified. He said to the host, “I like to go home and just live in the fontal position.”
Clarkson retorted, “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,” looking surprised by Mandel’s shadow persona. Mandel chuckled, “I know, I’m such a joy, I’m a light, I’m an energy, and I’m stunning.” “..To be really honest, I take a lot of medication.
He may have been excited to see Reba McEntire on The Voice because of that medicine. Calling her name and leaping from the crowd, Mandel approached the show’s panellist, the country music expert, and announced, “We’re right next door shooting the AGT finale.” Could you please sign my shirt?
After McEntire signed his “I [heart] Reba” shirt, Mandel gave an unexpected, tight hug to the audience.Carson Daly, the show’s host, remarked of the man who usually avoids physical contact, “You don’t see that every day.” Mandel acknowledges his perplexing actions, saying, “People notice discrepancies, particularly in the media.” “He shook someone’s hand,” or “Oh, he hugged someone.” I’m able to give you a handshake. Then I would believe that I hadn’t cleaned it thoroughly. And I would spend hours washing my hands by going back and forth in a circle.
He goes on, “I understand the funny in that,” determined to continue the discourse about mental health. But that doesn’t lessen how excruciatingly awful it is. I also don’t want to justify my emotional well-being. All I want is to keep it going.
Since Mandel was “boosted” and “vaccinated,” his Covid-19 was mild in 2022, serving as a reminder that being afraid of illness is insufficient to keep you safe. How do you feel about Howie Mandel’s candour regarding his mental health? Kindly share this story with us and let us know what you think so we can start a discourse!
