When Howie Mandel revealed his OCD diagnosis during an episode of The Howard Stern Show in 1998, he inspired countless others living with the condition. But did you know he shared it completely on accident?
In a recent interview with CBCGem, the comedian opened up about the terrifying moment and how he had previously tried to keep his diagnosis private.
"I did it by accident. I had been diagnosed with OCD and I didn't want to tell anybody for fear of how people would react," Mandel explained. "I thought it would embarrass my family, my kids, people wouldn't give me work anymore, I would be bullied."
"But I was on Howard Stern, and I didn't want to touch the doorknob to get out. And I asked if somebody could open the door because there's germs," he continued. "They thought it was funny, and they said, 'No you open it.' And I went to grab a Kleenex to open the door with a tissue, and they took the tissue away from me. And I said to him, I said, 'Howard, I've been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, and if you don't open the door and let me out, I can't breathe right now. You're going to have to call 9-1-1. This is legitimate and I take medication.'"
Mandel continued the story, saying, "They opened the door, and I went out in the hall, and I could hear the broadcast. And I thought we were in a commercial. And I didn't realize that I just broadcasted that whole thing publicly. And I was so embarrassed, devastated, and I walked out into the street, and I didn't know where to turn. I was so afraid of what was going to happen next. And some guy came up to be in my periphery and said 'Wait are you Howie Mandel?'"
After Mandel confirmed his identity, the man told him he had heard him on The Howard Stern Show before telling him, "I have obsessive compulsive disorder too, thank you for talking about it."
"It was the first time I ever heard somebody else — it was the first connection that made feel a bit better," Mandel shared of the touching moment.
Once his diagnosis became public knowledge, the America's Got Talent judge says he got "flooded" with mail from people who said Mandel sharing his story made them more comfortable with sharing theirs.
"That's when I decided to be open about it," Mandel concluded. "My mission is to remove the stigma from anything that feels different."
According to Mayo Clinic, obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health condition that "features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions. These obsessions lead you to do repetitive behaviors, also called compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions get in the way of daily activities and cause a lot of distress."
Mandel was formally diagnosed with OCD in his 40s, though he believes he had it for decades before then.
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