Former professional wrestler and now a certified blockbuster movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has always been open about his past battles with depression and he shared that it was God who became his rock during those trying times.
In a recent interview with Express, the "Jumanji" star admitted that he started his battle with depression at 15 years old when his mother attempted to kill herself. That battle escalated when he did not make it as a professional football player in his 20s and it got worse when he lost his girlfriend.
He also confessed in an interview with Rolling Stones that he underwent therapy "a few times" after falling depressed again around 2008 to 2009 because of his divorce. He revealed, "I was going through a lot of personal [stuff]. I was just struggling."
In speaking about depression, Johnson advised on Twitter, where he has nearly 13 million followers, that people going through emotional struggles should not be afraid to open up. Known for his muscular body and strength, Johnson said that it took him some time to realize that this was one of the keys to healing especially since men like him don't usually discuss their feelings.
Johnson, however, learned to eventually embrace and acknowledge his painful feelings. In 2015, he shared on OWN Network's Oprah's Master Class series that he realized he wasn't really alone in his journey.
"You're not the first to go through it; you're not going to be the last to go through it," the "Jumanji" star shared.
Johnson revealed that what got him through was sticking to his faith in God. He also said that depression made him unsure of the future but after leaning on God, he found hope and the inspiration to work hard and improve himself. The "Fast and Furious" star also learned to count his blessings daily and to thank God every day.
