Comedian and long-time America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel has candidly shared one of the darkest chapters of his life. Speaking openly about his lifelong battle with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and germaphobia, Mandel revealed that the extreme stress of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly cost him his life.
The Howie Mandel almost died self medicating COVID pandemic OCD germaphobia admission came during a recent podcast interview where the star reflected on how lockdowns triggered his deepest anxieties. Known for building a separate living space behind his home to isolate whenever family members showed symptoms of illness, Mandel confessed that the global health crisis overwhelmed his coping mechanisms. In an effort to escape crippling panic, he turned to self-medication, resulting in a dangerous medical emergency where he nearly died.
“I was just trying to escape… my struggles worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I almost died after self-medicating.” Howie Mandel
Mandel credited his wife of over 40 years, Terry Mandel, for stepping in with a crucial ultimatum that urged him to seek professional medical intervention. Today, the entertainer relies on prescribed medication, therapy, and proper medical support, encouraging others facing mental health crises to seek professional care rather than suffering in silence.
