Mental illness is all around us. If we aren’t fighting each day ourselves, we most certainly know people who are. From PTSD to anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, the list goes on. In fact, millions of people are affected each year in the US, with 21% of adults experiencing some form or another.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has decided to speak out about mental health, feeling the effects close to home
We need to be aware that mental illness doesn’t choose its victims. Celebrity status doesn’t, for example, dictate whether you’ll become ill. This is precisely why Dwayne Johnson has stood up and spoken out, as he has been dealing with something very close to home.
It was first in 2018 when he posted on Instagram about something relative. He shared a still shot from the HBO series, Ballers, where he’s dressed in character, standing at his fictional brother’s grave, beer in hand.
This was in honor of his sibling William, who was played by Donovan Carter, whom he lost to suicide. “Got me thinkin’ though bout how many of us have been affected by the suicide of our friends, family. Struggle and pain are real. We’ve all been there on some level or another,” the notorious family man wrote in the caption.
Heartbroken and clearly dealing with the loss every single day, he continued…
“My mom tried to check out when I was 15. She had a glazed look in her eyes that I had never seen before and she walks right into the middle of I-65 and continues to walk down into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and cars swerved out of the way not to hit her. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road,” he continued.
Read: Dad’s heartbreaking post after losing partner to postnatal depression: “Seek help early on”
Dwayne Johnson claims his mother has absolutely no recollection of that moment, but that’s probably for the best
It came as a shock to everyone that the 50-year-old’s mom was also recently in a motor vehicle accident. Standing tall through everything, he left us with some rather wise words. “She’ll survive and continue to get evaluated,” he continued in the caption. “This woman has survived lung cancer, tough marriage, a head-on collision with a drunk driver, and attempted suicide. She’s a survivor, in ways that make angels and miracles real.”
His pro-wrestler father, Rocky Johnson passed away in 2020, so he is making sure that he doesn’t lose out on a single second with his mother. “I got one parent left, so if you still got your mom and dad make sure you hug ‘em hard, [because] you never know when you’ll get that 3 am call we never want to get.”
Battling his own demons in the past
He has opened up about his own struggles, something fans have always been able to relate to. “We all go thru the sludge/shit and depression never discriminates,” he wrote on Twitter in 2018. “Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up. Especially we dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone.”
He also reminded everyone to pay attention to their loved ones, to actively listen, and to never brush aside their feelings. “Help ‘em thru it, get ‘em talkin’ about the struggle, and remind ‘em that they’re not alone. We got lucky that day when I was 15 and that ain’t always the case,” he concluded.
As the founder and head of the Dwayne Johnson Foundation, he is known for his gratuity toward others
Dwayne has helped grant hundreds of children’s make-a-wish requests through his foundation. He also continues to donate to animal welfare and the military at his alma mater. He’s also well known for his personal acts of kindness, from gifting cars to colleagues to buying family members a house, the man is a master at creating heartwarming moments for others.
He also gifted his long-time stunt double, cousin, and mentor, Tanoai Reed a brand new $30,000 truck in 2018 in appreciation of the last 17 years of dedication and hard work. His mom was given a brand-new home and car, being his biggest supporter from the ringside to the silver screen. It’s pretty clear that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is a great guy who does great things for others!
Keep Reading: A therapist shares the 7 biggest parenting mistakes that destroy kids’ mental strength
Sources
- “ 3 real-life moments of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson that will melt your heart.” Sportskeeda. Methodius Uwizera. June 20, 2022
- “15-Year-Old Dwayne Johnson Saved His Mom From Taking Her Own Life – And It’s A Moment He Will Never Forget.” Goalcast. Amber Dowling