Simon Cowell claims that the global epidemic caused a severe decline in his mental health, which prompted him to seek treatment as he worried about contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to his family.
When the rapidly spreading coronavirus sparked global terror and a string of national lockdowns that would alter how we live for the next two years, the TV and music entrepreneur was in Los Angeles and planning a new season of "Britain's Got Talent."
Cowell, 63, acknowledges that while he was stuck in southern California with his partner Lauren Silverman and their young son Eric, his first fear over the respiratory disease would launch a secret mental health battle.
His anxiety grew as a result of somber daily news reports that highlighted the staggering number of deaths worldwide, the congested hospitals, and the disastrous effects on life as people know it.
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He told the Daily Mirror, "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."
He added, "and then I suppose COVID was the real catalyst. In the very, very, very early stages, some friends of mine got really ill and I'm talking about really ill. So, I thought, "God, if I catch this, maybe the same thing's going to happen to me, Eric and Lauren."'
Cowell 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.
The father of one decided to pursue counseling after seeing acquaintances who had benefited from it; he compares the process to "going to the gym for your brain."
Rehashing his first session, he said, "I made the appointment and I sat down, really embarrassed and I said, "Look, I just don't know where to start."'
He added, "But within about 20 minutes it was as if I'd known him for 10, 20 years. He put me so much at ease. And you realise you're talking to a professional and they don't judge you, they listen to you."
Now that Cowell is back on the America's Got Talent judging panel, he freely admits to hoping that his nine-year-old son Eric would one day follow in his footsteps. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, he said that Eric is still getting the hang of selecting talented performers.
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