As she takes on a new chapter in her life, Ellen DeGeneres reveals a slew of health conditions she has been battling, shedding light on her journey with honesty and humor.
- September 28, 2024
AceShowbiz - In her final Netflix special "For Your Approval", Ellen DeGeneres candidly disclosed several health issues she's encountered as she's aged. The 66-year-old comedian has been diagnosed with "full-on osteoporosis," a condition she learned about after taking a bone density test.
Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and makes them susceptible to fractures, affects about one in five women over age 50 according to the National Institutes of Health.
"I don't even know how I'm standing up right now. I'm like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower," Ellen quipped in the special, which premiered on September 24.
Additionally, Ellen found herself grappling with arthritis, causing her prolonged pain but providing a brisk comedic edge, "I had excruciating pain one day and I thought I tore a ligament or something, and I got an MRI. They said, 'No, it's just arthritis.' I said, 'How did I get that?' And he said, 'Oh, it just happens at your age.' "
Beyond physical health, DeGeneres delves into her mental health journey, revealing diagnoses of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Ellen recounted her therapy sessions, which she began after allegations of a toxic workplace environment on her popular daytime talk show significantly impacted her mental well-being.
"I may have OCD because a therapist said so and I said, 'Yes, I am very organized,' because I thought that was the O," Ellen shared. Growing up in Christian Science, a religion that doesn't acknowledge diseases or disorders, left her without much understanding of her symptoms. "I look back now and I realize my dad for sure had OCD," she added, describing his repetitive behavior of checking doorknobs and faucets.
As for her ADHD, Ellen explained the difficulties it brings, "My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all. I mean, do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course you don't. Why would I ask that question?"
She humorously summarized her conditions, "So, I have ADD, I have OCD, I'm losing my memory. But I think I'm well-adjusted because I obsess on 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."
"Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval" is now available to stream on Netflix, offering a vulnerable yet comedic insight into her current state of life.
