During a recent episode of “The Pivot” podcast, superstar Dwayne Johnson shared that he’s had three battles with depression over the years.
He explained, noting his excitement to succeed at his NFL dreams, “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.”
Unfortunately, a shoulder injury prematurely ended his football career. Johnson explained, “That sent me in a tailspin. 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. I wasn’t going to any of the team meetings or participating in anything.” That’s when Johnson turned to wrestling, following in his father’s footsteps, wrestler Rocky Johnson.
Johnson said, “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. He said, “At that time, it was a tough one for me, and again, I didn’t know what it was. Years later, I went through it again when I got a divorce, and I didn’t know what it was.”
Eventually, Johnson learned how to cope and seek help when needed, saying, “Around 2017 or so, went through [it] a little bit but knew what it was at that time, and luckily at that time I had some friends I could lean on and say, ‘Hey, you know I feel a little wobbly now. I got a little struggle happening. I’m seeing the gray and not the blue.’”
The actor and wrestler discussed the importance of friendship, like the one he has with co-star Kevin Hart, adding, “Having friends is so vitally important as you just get a little older because you lean on each other. You can open up. If you’re having a wobbly day, call me. I’m there. Like that kind of stuff.” Still, Johnson credited his daughters, Simone, Jasmine, and Tiana, for helping his depression.
He shared, “The saving grace for me has really been my daughters and being a girl dad. That’s been the saving grace because you look at them, and you realize; really, this is what it’s all about. You look at the alternative to, how am I going to respond in this moment? What’s the best way that I can respond in this moment? Not now — they’re too young — but down the line, how I can help them. And this is how I responded to the moment, and hopefully, this will help you guys as well.”
The “Black Adam” star also shared clips from the podcast episode on his social media, encouraging people to seek help if they struggle, writing, “I’ve worked hard over the years to gain the emotional tools to work through any mental pain that may come to test me. But years ago, I didn’t know what mental health struggle was.”
Johnson also emphasized that men should seek mental health help and open up more, saying that men work through their problems without acknowledging them. However, he said talking to someone will make you feel better.