With his easy smile and laid-back persona, it is difficult to imagine "Hercules" star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson battling depression. But this is exactly what the actor underwent after he was snubbed by the National Football League (NFL) even after he played football for four years at the University of Miami.
During a recent interview with Oprah, Johnson opened up about his struggles when he was only 23 years old. Not only did the NFL pass him up, but so did his Canadian football team as well. With no future to consider, Johnson found himself living with his parents in their small apartment and battling depression.
"You're not the first to go through it; you're not going to be the last to go through it. And oftentimes — it happens — you just feel like you're alone. You feel like it's only you. You're in your bubble," he said. "I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], 'Hey, it's gonna be okay. It'll be okay.' So, I wish I knew that."
He might not have anyone to guide him through the darkest moments of his life back then, but he clung on to his faith in God. And that ultimately saved him.
Now, Johnson is sharing some valuable advice to those who are going through the same thing he did several years back.
"Hold onto that fundamental quality of faith," he said. "Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good."
After the interview, Johnson took to Twitter to respond to a doctor who lauded him for opening up about his depression. "Sometimes the hardest thing for us guys is to ask for help," Johnson tweets. "I made that mistake a few times."
This was not the first time that Johnson talked about his faith. Prior to his Oprah show appearance, Johnson said in a video interview that he used to be fearful of his future, but now he isn't anymore because of God.
"At that time, which was five or six years ago, for me I was a little unsure of what was actually gonna happen, you know, so I just have to, put my faith in God and continue to work hard and hopefully good things will happen," Johnson said.
He added: "I have my own special relationship with God, you know, and I certainly, I feel very blessed. I count my blessings, every day."
