Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s ‘tough’ mental health struggle, reveals battle with depression

Actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Photo / Getty Images

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has candidly discussed his struggles with depression.

The 51-year-old star is one of the biggest names in Hollywood but explained how he has suffered mental turmoil at various points during his life, from his college football days at the University of Miami to the height of his fame.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson will return to the world of wrestling.

Dwayne recalled on The Pivot Podcast: “My first battle with depression was down there in Miami. 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, I didn’t know what depression was. I just knew I didn’t wanna be there.

“I wasn’t going to any of the team meetings, wasn’t participating in anything, wasn’t working out. And you know for us, as athletes, just any kind of sweat and getting it in will get that s*** out of you. I couldn’t do it because of my shoulder. So at that time, that was a tough one for me and again, I didn’t know what it was.”

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and John Cena in action during WrestleMania XXVIII. Photo / Getty Images

The former WWE star explained that depression has resurfaced at various points of his life despite success in both wrestling and movies, although his “saving grace” is time spent with his daughters Simone, 21, Jasmine, 7, and Tiana, 5.

The Rock said: “Years later, I went through it again when I got a divorce — didn’t know that it was. Years later, around 2017 or so, I went through it a little bit. Knew what it was at that time and luckily I had some friends that I could lean on and say, ‘Hey, I’m feeling a little wobbly now. I got a little struggle happening, seeing a little grey and not the blue.’”