Summary
Highlights
The video introduces Howie Mandel's private battle with OCD, a debilitating disorder affecting millions. Despite his comedic success, OCD dictates his life, particularly his fear of germs, preventing him from touching doorknobs or shaking hands. He demonstrates his germaphobia on the set of 'Deal or No Deal', avoiding handrails and preferring untouched items.
Mandel's fist bump is a direct result of his germ obsession, contrasting it with a handshake which he perceives as a 'petri dish'. Beyond this public persona, his OCD is all-consuming, affecting his personal space, requiring everything to be pristinely new, and influencing even his decision to shave his head for a feeling of cleanliness. His book, 'Here's the Deal, Don't Touch Me', reveals the depths of his continuous struggle.
Mandel's long career, from stand-up to 'Deal or No Deal', was shaped by his hidden OCD. He discusses how his anxiety was a terror far beyond stage fright. A pivotal moment was accidentally revealing his 'germ fetish' on the Howard Stern Show, which he initially regretted, fearing it would end his career.
Mandel's OCD started at age six, manifested by an inability to tie his shoes due to fear of dirt. He shares the constant internal battle to wash his hands and feel clean. He relates to children also suffering from severe germaphobia, like Bridget, Michelle, and Rocco, who experience debilitating fears and rituals.
Raising three children proved challenging due to his fears. His wife describes his struggles with their crawling children and the construction of a separate house in their backyard, a 'solitary place' for Mandel to escape family germs. Despite his condition, he clarifies that direct physical contact with his loved ones, such as hugs and kisses, is possible, but he maintains strict boundaries related to illness and contamination, like not sleeping in the same room or eating with a sick family member.