Nick Cannon Reveals Shock Mental Health Diagnosis After Fathering 12 Kids

Nick Cannon has opened up about a shocking diagnosis relating to his mental health.

The actor shared that he has been diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), a rare mental health condition whose sufferers tend to take no thought to the feelings of others.

Nick Cannon previously shared that he’d always suspected he had a mental health condition but that his recent diagnosis has allowed him to improve himself and his life.

The 44-year-old TV host earlier revealed on his “Counsel Culture” podcast that he was recently diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), prompting him to seek help and reevaluate his health.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy towards others.

Sufferers with NPD often have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, superiority, and entitlement, as well as having trouble forming and maintaining healthy, mutually respectful relationships.

“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,” Cannon told People Magazine while serving meals at the Los Angeles Mission’s Thanksgiving celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

He added, “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.”

Although Cannon’s diagnosis is known to be a lifelong condition, the symptoms can improve with aggressive therapy, which the “Masked Singer” host alluded to have started already.

According to the news outlet, he shared that he has accepted his condition and is using it as a tool to better himself and his life even as he undergoes therapy.

“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 shared.

Cannon added, “To be able to say I’m an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too.”

The “Drumline” actor initially opened up about his mental health in a chat with Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, a Doctor of Psychology, on the Nov. 8 episode of his “Counsel Culture” podcast.

At the time, he explained that he had been “clinically diagnosed” with NPD and that he identifies with nearly all “markers” for the disorder.

“I’ve taken all the power away from the term narcissism ’cause I’ve researched it, and I understand it,” he shared. “Call me whatever you want… now if I didn’t know what it was, then I have issue with it.”

The causes of the disorder are still unknown, but childhood factors are said to be a factor in its development.

An unhealthy relationship with parents is also said to be a factor in its development. It often occurs together with other mental conditions, most commonly including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, or other personality disorders.

Cannon was joined at his Wednesday’s charity Thanksgiving food event by other stars, including “Magic Mike” actor Joe Manganiello and former “Vanderpump Rules” star Tom Sandoval.

The “America’s Got Talent” host weighed in on how he is a “busy man” during Thanksgiving Day as he has to divide time among his large family. Cannon is now a father of 12 from several different mothers, including Mariah Carey and Bre Tiesi, after welcoming his first child in 2011.

“It’s very complicated. I’m a busy man on Thanksgiving,” he said of visiting his many children during the holiday, per People. “I’m going to be full by the end of the day, but everybody specializes in certain things, you know what I mean? Some people got good sweet potato pie, some people got amazing fried turkey. So I know every house that needs to have the things that I really like.”

According to the news outlet, he also shared that he’ll be “all over” in December and hopes to spend time with his children in the snow.

“Everywhere from Aspen to Santa’s Village, all of those things,” Cannon said. “All the kids want to go to the snow. So a little bit of East Coast, a little bit of Aspen, a little bit of Big Bear.”

Cannon shares twins Moroccan and Monroe, 13, with ex-wife, singer Mariah Carey, and children Golden Sagon, 7, Rise Messiah, 2, and Powerful Queen, 3, with Brittany Bell.

The proud father also shares twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, 3, and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin, 2, with Abby De La Rosa.

With Bre Tiesi, he co-parents 2-year-old son Legendary Love, and LaNisha Cole is the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, Onyx Ice Cole.

Cannon and Alyssa Scott are parents to 1-year-old daughter Halo Marie, following the tragic loss of their son Zen to brain cancer in 2021.