Dwayne Johnson opens up about battle with depression: 'I didn't know what it was'
15.05.2023 - 19:21
/ foxnews.com
Dwayne Johnson is revealing his struggles with depression. Johnson shared on "The Pivot" podcast that he's had "three bouts of depression" over the years. "The first time depression hit me I was at the University of Miami.
I came in. I was balling out. I was going to be the only freshman to play.
And at that time we were national champions, defending national champions," he explained, noting his excitement to fulfill his NFL dreams. But then a shoulder injury ended his football career. "That sent me in a tailspin," Johnson said.
"I didn’t want to go to school. I was ready to leave. I left school.
I didn't take any midterms, and I just left. But the interesting thing, at that time, is I just didn't know what it was." He continued, "I didn't know what mental health was. I didn't know what depression was.
I just knew I didn't want to be there. Wasn't going to any of the team meetings. Wasn't participating in anything." Johnson turned to wrestling, following in the footsteps of his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson. "I always say me playing in the NFL wound up being the best thing that never happened to me.
Because it really helped shape and inform who I am." But that relief only comes from the benefit of hindsight, and he noted he faced other depressive episodes later in his life. "At that time, it was a tough one for me, and again, I didn’t know what it was," Johnson said. "Years later, went through it again when I got a divorce, didn’t know what it was." Eventually, Johnson learned better how to cope and reach out for help when he needed it.