Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Talks About His Depression; Seems Like Just The Best Kind Of Guy
"Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good."
As the media and society more generally have started to talk more honestly and openly about mental health, we’ve seen more and more people come forward to share their personal stories.
A couple of months ago the ABC ran their annual Mental As week featuring comedies, documentaries and commentary on various struggles and experiences getting help. In the short time since, celebrities like Lady Gaga, Drew Barrymoore, Angelina Jolie and Sarah Silverman have added their voices to the chorus reassuring everyone that even A+ legends have to deal with shitty, no-good things (though not in those words).
By the by, Silverman’s story was particularly affecting and struck a chord with many. Speaking of the depression she still battles, she told NPR “It feels like I’m terribly homesick, but I’m home”. (You should absolutely listen to the whole interview. It’s great.)
Now, ultimate tough guy and walking brick wall Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has spoken about his own experiences in a special series for Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Oprah Masterclass Series’. In a series of videos released this week the actor and former WWE wrestler has described the period of depression he faced in his early-20s after the collapse of his football career with, what I might add, is a voice so calming and beautiful I want to snuggle up and have a nap on my desk.
“I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realise is that you’re not alone,” he says. “You’re not the first to go through it; you’re not going to be the last to go through it … I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], ‘Hey, it’s gonna be okay. It’ll be okay.'”
He then urges anyone in a similar situation to “hold on to that fundamental quality of faith”. “Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good … [The period which came after for me] wound up being one of the greatest chapters in my life.”
This is all something the actor has talked at length about before. Last year when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter he said he’s experienced severe bouts of depression three times in his life. Once during his football career, again soon afterwards, and most recently after his 2008 divorce.
“I didn’t know what it was,” he said, speaking of the first instance. “I didn’t know why I didn’t want to do anything. I had never experienced anything like that … I grew up where, when a door closed, a window didn’t open. The only thing I had was cracks. I’d do everything to get through those cracks — scratch, claw, bite, push, bleed.
“Now the opportunity is here. The door is wide open and it’s as big as a garage.”
On that point, here’s a thoughtful and very inspirational clip he made this week about becoming ‘The Rock’:
Master Class: Who Is The Rock?Oprah Winfrey asked me to explain the “Rock persona”. I’ve never explained my philosophy behind it, so for the first time ever…#TheRockArrives Watch #MasterClass this SUNDAY at 8 pm on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. #BringYourPeoplesEyebrow
Posted by Dwayne The Rock Johnson on Thursday, 12 November 2015
And here’s a photo from last week where he announced he’s about to have a baby girl:
It’s almost enough to make you excited for the new Fast and the Furious.