Ellen DeGeneres Reveals Shocking Health Struggles in Her New Netflix Comedy Special
PHOTO: RANDY HOLMES VIA GETTY
In her new Netflix comedy special, For Your Approval, Ellen DeGeneres candidly discusses her experiences with mental health, revealing her struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD).
During the special, the former talk show host humorously reflected on her discovery of OCD. “I may have obsessive-compulsive disorder because a therapist said so, and I said, ‘Yes, I am very organized,’ because I thought that was the ‘O,'” she joked. DeGeneres admitted she wasn’t familiar with the true nature of OCD, adding, “I didn’t know what OCD was. I was raised in Christian Science, a religion that doesn’t acknowledge diseases or disorders.”
Growing up in a household where such topics were rarely discussed, DeGeneres now looks back and recognizes certain behaviors in her family that align with OCD. “I realize my dad for sure had OCD,” she shared. “He would check the doorknob 15 times before we’d leave, check the faucet 15 times, and unplug all the appliances because lightning could strike and cause a fire.”
Reflecting on her own behavior, the 66-year-old comedian explained, “It’s funny, I never thought of myself as obsessive. I think of myself as careful, and everyone else as careless and out of control.” She also noted that OCD tendencies can sometimes be hereditary, which might explain her own challenges with the condition.
In addition to OCD, DeGeneres discussed her struggle with ADD, revealing how it affects her daily life and ability to focus. “My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all,” she confessed, adding her trademark humor to the situation. “Do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course, you don’t. Why would I ask that question? It’s hard for me to focus.”
DeGeneres went on to describe how these conditions often play off each other in her life. “I have ADD, I have OCD, and I’m losing my memory,” she joked. “But I think I’m well-adjusted because I obsess over things, but I don’t have the attention span to stick with it, and I quickly forget what I was obsessing about in the first place.”
Her witty take on mental health and her openness about her personal struggles reflect DeGeneres’ ability to find humor in challenging situations. While she acknowledged the difficulties of living with both OCD and ADD, she presented her experiences with a lighthearted perspective, making her relatable to audiences dealing with similar issues.
In For Your Approval, Ellen DeGeneres continues to blend comedy with self-reflection, offering insight into her personal health journey while maintaining the humor that has long endeared her to fans.
