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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has spoken up about his experiences in battling depression multiple times in his life.
One of Hollywood’s highest paid actors talked about his toughest days during an interview with the Sunday Express. He recalled, “I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly.”
For someone who stands 6 feet and 5 inches, it may appear difficult to imagine such a larger-than-life man curl up and wallow in self pity, yet the actor admits to have battled against depression several times.
When he was fifteen years old, his mother attempted to commit suicide by standing in the middle of the highway.
“She got out of the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road,” narrated Johnson in the interview. “What’s crazy about that suicide attempt is that to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t.”
He also recalled being let go from the Canadian Football League after only a year due to numerous injuries, shattering his dreams of a professional football career. Shortly after, his then-girlfriend broke up with him. “That was my absolute worst time,” he said.
After the interview went public, Johnson took to Twitter. He offered thanks saying he got a lot of responses from having shared his experience.
Image: Twitter/@TheRock
Johnson also encouraged netizens who replied to his post that there is no shame in getting help for being depressed.
Image: Twitter/@TheRock
In December 2017, Johnson was awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He will also star in the upcoming movie “Rampage” which will premiere in Philippine cinemas on April 12. The movie takes inspiration from a video game of the same name. Three giant mutated monsters rampage through a populated city and it’s up to Dwayne Johnson as Davis Okoye to put an end to the mayhem. Alfred Bayle/JB
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