Nick Cannon left stunned after shock mental health diagnosis after fathering 12 children: ‘I need help’
Nick Cannon is breaking his silence about a new mental health diagnosis he’s learning to live with.
Earlier this month, the 44-year-old father-of-12 revealed on his Counsel Culture podcast that he had been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).
Suffers have an unreasonably high sense of self-importance, and they tend to seek out attention from others, according to the Mayo Clinic. People with narcissistic personality disorder may also have difficulty caring for the feelings of other people.
Although it’s currently believed that narcissistic personality disorder, like other personality disorders, is a lifelong condition, the symptoms can improve with aggressive therapy.
While serving Thanksgiving dinners at the Los Angeles Mission on Wednesday, Cannon told People that he had always suspected he might have undiagnosed mental health conditions.
‘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. ‘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
Nick Cannon is breaking his silence about a new mental health diagnosis he’s learning to live with. Earlier this month, Cannon revealed on his Counsel Culture podcast that he had been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD); seen in May in Atlanta
Cannon, 44, is famous not only for his film and television appearances, but for father 12 children with several different women; pictured Monday with Brittany Bell and their children in Hollywood
The Wild ‘N Out host added that he’s treating his newly diagnosed condition gives him a new opportunity to improve himself and his life.
‘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.’
Cannon previously had Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, a psychologist, on his podcast to diagnose him.
During their chat, he admitted that most of the ‘markers’ for narcissistic personality disorder described him to a T.
But the development made him feel empowered as he came to understand the disorder through his ‘research.’
The causes of narcissistic personality disorder aren’t currently known, though childhood factors are theorized to play a role in developing the condition.
Unhealthy relationships with parents are thought to play a role, though multiple different behaviors could impact the development of NPD.
‘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 to People while serving Thanksgiving food on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Mission
Children who are rejected by parents or excessively critiqued could be at risk, but kids who receive excessive praise from caregivers could also be in danger of developing the disorder, according to Harvard Medical School.
NPD may be expressed in different ways, and some individuals may still lead relatively normal, productive lives while living with the condition, though it may be debilitating for others.
It often occurs in concert with other mental health conditions, most commonly including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder or other personality disorders.
The personality disorder affects around five percent of adults in the US and is around 50 percent more common in men than women.
In addition to being known for his acting and hosting roles, Cannon is nearly as famous for his enormous family.
The Drumline star now has 12 children from several different mothers since welcoming his first child in 2011.
INSIDE NICK CANNON’S VERY MODERN FAMILY
Daughter Monroe and son Moroccan with ex wife Mariah Carey
In 2011, this then-wife Mariah Carey gave birth to his first two children, the fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe, 13.
The Drumline star now has 12 children from several different mothers. In 2011, this then-wife Mariah Carey gave birth to his first two children, the fraternal twins Moroccan (L) and Monroe (R), 13; pictured together in 2018
He shares three children with Britney Bell, including (L–R) Golden Sage, Rise Messiah, Cannon, Bell and Powerful Queen; pictured Monday in Hollywood
Nick and Mariah Carey tied the knot on in the Bahamas in 2008, and they welcomed the rapper’s first kids on April 30, 2011 – a set of twins named Monroe and Moroccan Scott.
According to People, Monroe was named after late actress Marilyn Monroe, who was said to be an inspiration to Mariah. They decided not to give her a middle name since Mariah doesn’t have one.
As for Moroccan, the idea for his name came from the Moroccan décor in Mariah’s apartment, which is where Nick proposed to her.
His middle name, Scott, is also Nick’s middle name and his grandmother’s maiden name.
Sons Golden and Rise Messiah, and daughter Powerful Queen, with Brittany Bell
After his split from Mariah, Nick dated Phoenix Suns dancer Brittany Bell on-and-off for years.
They welcomed a son together, Golden Sage, seven, on February 21, 2017.
Reports came out that the couple had split after that, but in November 2020, they were seen walking hand-in-hand at his 33rd birthday celebration – with Brittany sporting a growing baby bump.
Cannon recently joked with People that he’s ‘a busy man’ around Thanksgiving time due to having to go to ‘a bunch of dinners’ with his various families; pictured with Onyx
They then welcomed their second child, Powerful Queen, three, in December 2020.
On September 23, 2022, Nick and Brittany welcomed their third child together, son Rise Messiah, two.
Sons Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa
In between children with Bell, Cannon fathered twin sons Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, three, with Abby De La Rosa.
Nick and Abby, who is a DJ and broadcast professional, kept their relationship a secret until they announced that they were expecting twin boys together in April 2021.
The boys — whom they named named Zion and Zillion — were born on June 14, 2021.
In an Instagram Q&A, Abby later revealed that she and Nick accidentally got pregnant in April 2020, but sadly, they lost that baby. Then, they became focused on getting pregnant again.
In November 2022, Cannon again welcomed a child with De La Rosa when she gave birth to their third child, a daughter named Beautiful Zeppelin, two.
Nick Cannon has become a father for the eighth time after welcoming his first child with model Bre Tiesi, 31, a baby boy named Legendary Love (pictured) – while still awaiting the arrival of his ninth baby with a fifth woman
Son Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi
In July of 2022, he welcomed his son Legendary Love, two, with the model-turned-reality star Bre Tiesi.
He shared the happy news on an episode of his since-canceled talk show The Nick Cannon Show, saying at the time: ‘It’s a boy! We found out yesterday. Everyone knows I have a lot of children. It’s never a competition. Each one is special.’
In a YouTube video, Bre documented her experience of labor, sharing clips of herself trying to work through the pain of her contractions and impending delivery, with Nick by her side the whole time.
The new mom revealed that the couple’s son Legendary Love weighed 8lbs 10oz at birth and measured at 21 inches.
She also revealed that the couple had something of a scare during the birth, explaining that her son had a ‘long crown’ because his hand was up by his ear when he was born, a condition known as nucal hand.
‘So he needed a little respiratory support from [my midwife],’ she wrote. ‘I noticed he wasn’t crying…’
Daughter Onyx with LaNisha Cole
Adding to the brood: Nick Cannon made the surprise announcement that he had welcomed his ninth child with his tenth and 11th children still on the way as he shared this family snap featuring 40-year-old model and new mom Lanisha Cole
Nick Cannon made the surprise announcement that he had welcomed his ninth child
The actor, 41, shocked fans as he took to Instagram in September 2022 to announce that he had welcomed a child with 40-year-old model LaNisha Cole, two
Nick was romantically linked to LaNisha in February 2021 as she shared a now deleted video of him in a room filled with balloons, however, they split at the end of the month.
LaNisha is an American fashion model who was best known for her eight seasons as a rotating model on The Price Is Right hosted by Bob Barker then Drew Carey.
Son Zen and daughter Halo with Alyssa Scott
Cannon also shared a son, Zen, with the model Alyssa Scott, but he died tragically in December 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
Prior to that diagnosis, Zen had suffered from hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up inside the skull and puts pressure on the brain.
The child underwent surgery after the cancer diagnosis to remove pressure on the brain and install shunts to allow the fluid to escape, but the parents ultimately decided to not have Zen treated with chemotherapy.
Nick and Alyssa Scott welcomed a son named Zen, but the boy died of a brain tumor at just five months old in December 2021
Cannon understood the devastating side effects of chemo, as he went through the difficult treatment after being diagnosed with lupus, and he decided to instead focus on Zen’s quality of life after doctors told him the child would likely only live to three or four if he did rounds of chemotherapy.
After the tragic passing, Nick revealed that he was haunted by guilt ‘guilt’ about having to divide time between his busy work schedule and his numerous children.
‘I’m a father, first and foremost. There’s a lot of guilt that I feel and I talk about this in therapy all the time,’ he admitted. ‘It’s rooted in not having enough time to spend with my loved ones, specifically my children, because I have a lot of children.
He and Alyssa got a second chance at being parents in December 2022, when Scott gave birth to their second child, 23-month-old Halo Marie.
Cannon recently joked with People that he’s ‘a busy man’ around Thanksgiving time due to having to go to ‘a bunch of dinners’ with his various families.
‘It’s very complicated,’ he said.
