Handsome. Rich. Successful. Athletic. The list of adjectives goes on and on to describe one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. So it will be a shock to many when millions hear about his deep depression on the next episode of Oprah’s Master Class. The star recounts his deep, dark battle through and out of depression. And more importantly, what he learned.
One situation in particular was at age 15, he saved his mother, Ata Maivia Johnson from committing suicide.
His parents were in an argument while driving when his father pulled the car over on the side of the road. Ata got out and began walking into oncoming traffic until Dwayne pulled her out of harms way.
“In that moment, one of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned was how precious life is and in an instant, it can all go away” he shared.
Another revealing moment in The Rock’s life was when his daughter was born. In the episode, he says “I held her with these two hands and said ‘I will always protect you. You are safe.’ And from that day on, she is. I remember asking her, ‘What is it you love about our relationship?’ And she says, ‘I trust you.’ And to me, hearing that from a 13-year-old girl to her dad, and remember where I was when I was 13: the instability, the distrust. To hear my daughter tell me that…man, I love that girl.”
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Even more life-changing situations occur in this tell-all episode: including being passed over by the NFL after playing football all throughout high school and college at the University of Miami.
At age 23, Dwayne fell into a deep depression and was uncertain as to what he was supposed to do next with his life.
“I found that with depression one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to go through it, I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], ‘Hey, it’s going to be okay” he shared.
Two months later Dwayne says he got a call from the head coach of the pro team that cut him and he was asked to return to the field.
“I hung up the phone, and my dad said, ‘You’re going to do it, right?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t think so. I think…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson On His Depression: “One Of The Greatest Lessons I Learned…” was originally published on blackdoctor.org
