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Nick Cannon is open about the fact that he is trying to improve his mental health.
On Wednesday, November 27 — amid volunteering at the Los Angeles Mission's Thanksgiving celebration — Cannon, 44, spoke with People about his narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) diagnosis. The former America's Got Talent host said he finds power in owning his disorder as he works on getting help and "healing" himself.
"I feel like there's so many labels out there, but it's like, to be able to embrace it and say, 'Look, I'm healing. I need help. Show me.' I just embrace mental health and therapy in such a strong way," he explained. "To be able to say I'm an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too."
The TV personality told the outlet he did a lot of testing and is also neurodivergent. "I still don't understand it all the way, but I kind of always wanted to get tested for it. I did a bunch of tests," he stated. "I've been diagnosed with ADHD. Even as a kid it was dyslexia, but just knowing that I'm just a neurodivergent individual, I kind of always knew."
Cannon first revealed his clinical NPD diagnosis on his Counsel Culture podcast earlier this month when speaking with Dr. Cheyenne Bryant. The All That alum said he identifies with all the NPD "markers" besides having a "lack of empathy" and "rage."
Dr. Bryant said Cannon's ability to "stand on" his diagnosis and his identity — including having 12 children with six different women — is positive. "That part of the narcissist I don't believe is unhealthy... That's the part I actually admire about you is that you stand on 'Yeah, 12 kids, 12 babies, yeah narcissist, yeah, this is what they say,'" she remarked.
Cannon shared that amid his diagnosis, "I'm just trying to be the best father I can be. I'm just trying to make the best out of the situation that I did create, but I'm still trying to step up," he said on the podcast.
The Masked Singer host was married to musical icon Mariah Carey from 2008 to 2016. The pair share fraternal twins, Moroccan and Monroe, both 13. Cannon has three kids with Brittany Bell: son Golden Sagon, 7, daughter Powerful Queen, 3, and son Rise Messiah, 1. He has a set of twin boys and a daughter with Abby De La Rosa: Zion Mixolydian & Zillion Heir, both 3 years old and Beautiful Zeppelin, 2. The comedian also has a 2-year-old son, Legendary Love, with Bre Tiesi, and a 2-year-old daughter, Onyx Ice, with LaNisha Cole. Additionally, he is a dad to 1-year-old Halo Marie, who he had with Alyssa Scott. (Cannon and Scott's son Zen died in December 2021 from a brain tumor when he was 5 months old.)
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