American actor and TV host Nick Cannon has opened up about living with Narcissistic Personality Disorder saying the diagnosis has helped him grow into a more responsible parent.
Speaking on The Breakfast Club on September 15, Cannon revealed that he was diagnosed two years ago after brain scans showed severe damage in his frontal lobe. He said the discovery forced him to face parts of his personality shaped by ego and unprocessed trauma.
“It’s a process. You gotta have the right psychiatrists or psychologists. They put you through interviews, forms, and tests, and then they tell you where you fall on the spectrum,” Cannon explained. “Luckily, I wasn’t on the far end with rage or lack of empathy. But I did have the traits of self-worth and believing my word mattered more than most. Once I was diagnosed, I had to do the work. Now, even with my children and their mothers, I know when I might be gaslighting or being too harsh. I try to add more compassion.”
Cannon first revealed his diagnosis in 2014 on his Counsel Culture podcast, where he confirmed that he had been “clinically diagnosed.” He admitted that he related to almost all the “markers” of the disorder.
“I’ve taken all the power away from the term narcissism ‘cause I’ve researched it and I understand it,” Cannon said on the podcast. “Call me whatever you want… now if I didn’t know what it was, then I have issue with it.”
Cannon, 44, is father to 12 children with six women. He admitted that his decision to have so many kids was tied to trauma from his 2016 divorce with singer Mariah Carey.
“A lot of it came from pain I didn’t process,” he said. “Instead of healing, I distracted myself with work, money, and relationships. I was reckless and casual because I could afford to live without thinking of the consequences. Now I know I should have slowed down and done the inner work. I love all my kids, but I realize things could have been different.”
The actor said therapy has not only changed how he relates to his children but also how he handles disagreements with their mothers.
“Sometimes the mothers of my kids ask me to go to therapy with them, and I agree. It gives us a safe space to talk. I’ve learned better ways to communicate, like sharing how I feel instead of just trying to be right. That shift alone has made me a better partner and father,” he said.
Cannon also credited brain specialists for showing him how childhood trauma and even environmental factors like toxins could have shaped his mental health.
“I thought my brain scans would show I was a genius,” he joked. “Instead, they showed damage that probably came from something in my childhood. It explained a lot about how my mind works, but it also showed me I can get better.”
Despite criticism of his unconventional family life, Cannon said all his children were born out of love. “Every child I had came from a loving relationship. But if I had done the healing earlier, I would have taken my time. I know better now.”
