Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson Shares His Depression Story

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson recently shared his struggle with depression in a People interview. Johnson says that "I was an only child, and I was always a better listener than I was a communicator in terms of sharing my feelings," he said. "And I feel like the most important thing, obviously, is communicating and realizing that asking for help when you're down and you're feeling wobbly or when you're depressed is actually the most powerful thing you can do. Asking for help is not a weakness."


"As a matter of fact, asking for help is our superpower, and men, especially us, we fall into this trap of being really adverse to vulnerability, because we always want to be strong and feel like we can take on the world."

His words touch on a deeper, overlooked point-- although mental illness stigma affects everyone, men are critically underserved in regards to mental health, both in terms of admitting that they need help and need to seek out treatment. "Asking for help is not a weakness. As a matter of fact, asking for help is our superpower, and men, especially us, we fall into this trap of being really adverse to vulnerability, because we always want to be strong and feel like we can take on the world." Johnson says.


Many men often experience depression differently than women.


They may not necessarily know that their symptoms are indicative of depression because they may not be the "classic" symptoms depicted in popular media.

There are lesser-known physical symptoms such as, backaches or headaches as well as dangerous/maladaptive behavior such as excessive drinking, overworking or aggression. Other symptoms include:

  • Fatigue or decreased energy
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Bogy aches, headaches, or digestive issues
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Agitation
  • Reckless behavior
  • Self-medication with drugs

This interview is not the first time that Johnson has opened up about his struggles with mental health. Johnson stated that he experienced depression after hitting a critical career setback in his early 20s. He also saw his mother attempt to commit suicide in front of him, an experience that impacted him deeply. After these troubling episodes, Johnson was left struggling and contemplating how he might continue living. And during an intimate interview in 2015 for the Oprah network, he also spoke openly about the loneliness of a depressive episode. He said that "with depression, one of the most important things to realize is that you're not alone."

As Johnson said, "With depression, an important thing to realize is, you're not the first to go through it, and you won't be the last to go through it." If you or a loved one are experiencing depressive symptoms and medication does not seem to be enough, reach out to schedule a free consultation to see if TMS is right for you. 

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