Howie Mandel, the celebrated television host of NBC game show Deal or No Deal and actor celebrates his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the most amazing way. He has become one of the most funny and celebrated comedians we have.
As I grew older, those quirks found their way into my comedy Deal or No Deal works nicely with my ADD/ADHD symptoms.
Mandel has mysophobia and can not shake hands with anyone unless he is wearing latex gloves. He now is known for “fist pounds” when he greets peoples. Watch what happens when he is hypnotized on America’s Got Talent 2015 and is asked to shake hands. Howie has his very own hashtag: #HowieShakesHands
Mandel commented in 2011 that he has struggled with the condition since childhood, but did not seek help until he was an adult:
“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t feel there was an issue. But I wasn’t diagnosed until adulthood. I’ve always felt a little bit different, and I always knew I wasn’t as comfortable with life as everybody else seemed to be. But I didn’t know what I could do about it. When I was a kid, I didn’t know anybody who went to a psychiatrist. There was always a stigma attached to mental health issues. I think there still is. But now I’m taking care of myself.”
“We are so behind in the world as to not have something in place that just teaches everyone how to cope,” he said.
The embarrassment and stigma surrounding mental health issues needs to end, he said.
“I think the solution to making this world better is if we would just be healthy, mentally,” Mandel said.
“We take care of our dental health,” he said. “We don’t take care of our mental health.”
A great quote by Howie:
I was kind of a misfit, actually. When you’re young, you want to be like everybody else, and I was like nobody else. I couldn’t sit still. I was impulsive. I still am. What is now called a ‘talent’ did not serve me well as a child. I didn’t have friends. I was really an outcast.
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