Drew Carey said he twice attempted suicide as a young man. Speaking to host Nancy O'Dell, the 49-year-old comedian said he suffered depression for a long time, and purposely overdosed on pills at age 18 and again in his early 20s.
"There is a reason we want attention all the time," said Carey. "Living in Hollywood, you can get disconnected from everybody. You can feel like you are the only one. So you feel it, you hold it in and you don't let it go, and you don't try to find help because you think, 'Oh man, if I tell anybody, I'm going to seem like I'm weak. I won't get a movie deal, I won't get invited to...' whatever goes through your head."
Speaking about fellow star Owen Wilson, who last month reportedly attempted suicide, Carey said "it's going to sound cold, but I wasn't reading the paper going 'Oh poor guy.' I was thinking, I hope he's learning what he is supposed to be learning from this experience and not wasting the opportunity to learn."
Drew Carey said he found inspiration through self-help books: "I just read every single one I can get a hold of and I still do. I read that stuff all the time still. I am always coming out bigger, better, stronger, and happier."
Presently hosting the primetime game show , Drew Carey also assumes the helm of beginning October 15.