Simon Cowell expresses relief after discussing his struggle with depression
Simon Cowell spoke up about ‘a weight has lifted’ after trying mental health therapy
Simon Cowell has opened up about his try to get mental health therapy for the first time amid COVID-19.
The America’s Got Talent star shared his candid thoughts in the first episode of The Mirror's Men in Mind podcast and said, “I’ve suffered from depression over the years... but that was just something I just thought, ‘Well, that’s my character trait. I get down,’ and it’s something you deal with,"
Cowell added, “I wish I had done this 10 or 20 years ago...it’s like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.”
The X Factor creator further said, “I got terrified seeing some of my friends getting seriously ill, and a thought persistently loomed over my head that If I get it, Eric and Lauren will have to face it too."
Cowell explained that “COVID was the real catalyst” and during the early stages of the pandemic, his friend got really ill and he was scared, "God, if I catch this, maybe the same thing’s going to happen to me, Eric, and Lauren.”
The Britain Got Talent star admitted that he tested himself '1,000 times' during the pandemic, and remembered “I didn’t know what was true or not, I just didn’t have a clue other than I was petrified about catching it. Just petrified.”
He finally contracted the virus, but he did not suffer any negative effects. Nevertheless, the experience made him realize that, when the world gradually returned to normal, he needed to take action to enhance his mental health.
Cowell decided to pursue counseling after seeing acquaintances who had benefitted from it; he compares the process to "taking your brain to the gym."
