Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been the highest paid actor in Hollywood for two straight years, but he admitted in a recent interview that the road to where he is now has been a bumpy one. He told the UK’s “Express” that not only had he experienced his own bouts with depression, but he had also witnessed his own mother’s suicide attempt when he was just 15 years-old.
Amid financial struggles, Ata Johnson had just been evicted from her apartment.
“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. What’s crazy about that suicide attempt is that to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t.”
It wasn’t until years later that a failed football career brought the 6’5″ action star to his knees. After a stint in the Canadian football league was cut short, Johnson said that he hit rock bottom. “Struggle and pain is real. I was devastated and depressed.”
Johnson said that, had he not found the inner strength to carry on, he might have found himself on the road to a suicide attempt. Instead, he says he’s using the memory of his pain to help others. “We both healed but we’ve always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain. We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone.”
Johnson started speaking out about his own depression several years ago, doing several short videos with Oprah Winfrey for her “Master Class” series.
The response to Johnson’s continued dialogue has already gotten back to him, driving him to continue his mission.
Got tons of responses to this. Thank you. We all go thru the sludge/shit and depression never discriminates. Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 2, 2018
Johnson responded to another fan who opened up to him about depression, saying, “I hear you. I’ve battled that beast more than once.”