S Poddar
Nick Cannon recently revealed his experience with mental health issues, and he was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder, NPD. The host of The Masked Singer, 44, opened up to People about how challenging it has been but also a growth in the process of understanding his condition. “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 explained.
This isn’t the first diagnosis that has come Cannon’s way related to his mental health. He had earlier been identified with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and he suffered from dyslexia as a child. In a reflection of his experiences, he said he’d “kind of always known” he was neurodivergent.
There are so many labels out there, but to me, it’s about embracing those labels and saying, ‘Look, I’m healing. I need help. Show me,'” he said. He added that having mental health awareness and therapy would be imperative to him for his personification. “To be able to say I’m an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too.
According to the Mayo Clinic, narcissistic personality disorder features an inflated sense of one’s own importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. On an episode of his podcast Counsel Culture, he first spoke about being clinically diagnosed with NPD this past month. He explained that while speaking with psychologist Dr. Cheyenne Bryant he could relate to nearly all of the “markers” associated with the disorder.
During the podcast episode, Cannon demonstrated how understanding his diagnosis has been empowering. “I’ve taken all the power away from the term narcissism because I’ve researched it and I understand it,” he explained. “Call me whatever you want… now if I didn’t know what it was, then I’d have an issue with it.”
Cannon also broached his family’s experiences with neurodiversity. His two-year-old son, Zillion, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder early this year, something he shares with the girlfriend Abby De La Rosa, and with whom together, they are embracing him fully. In a heartfelt, sincere Instagram post on the world autism awareness day – 2nd April, couple posted about the diagnosis.
They declared on their post, “Today our family commemorates World Autism Awareness Day that is more than a special day for us for now because our incredible two-year-old, Zillion was newly diagnosed with ASD. Welcome to the special dynamic few of Nikola Tesla, Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Michelangelo, for some of the dynamic members. “Our beautiful boy experiences life in 4D and teaches us something new every day!
Cannon’s openness about his own diagnosis and his son’s journey reflects a broader effort to destigmatize mental health conditions and neurodiversity. By sharing his story, he aims to inspire others to seek help, embrace their challenges, and focus on personal growth. His approach also emphasizes self-awareness and education as crucial steps toward empowerment. Rather than allowing his diagnosis to define him negatively, Cannon has chosen to reframe the narrative, encouraging others to explore their own paths to understanding. His willingness to confront these issues publicly underscores the importance of fostering conversations around mental health and acceptance.
