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​Dwayne Johnson Opens Up About The 'Vulnerability' Of Depression

​Dwayne Johnson Opens Up About The 'Vulnerability' Of Depression

The actor appeared on 'Lorraine' on Friday, where he talked about bottling his feelings up as a teenager

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

After recently revealing struggles with his mental health, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has now opened up about the 'vulnerability' that comes with talking about depression.

The actor appeared on Lorraine on Friday, where he talked about bottling his feelings up as a teenager.

He told the show's LA correspondent Ross King: "Depression doesn't discriminate and I thought that was an important part of the narrative if I was going to share a little bit of my story of the past.

"Regardless of who you are or what you do for a living or where you come from, it doesn't discriminate, we all kind of go through it. If I could share a little bit of it and if I could help somebody I'm happy to do it.

"The key thing that I found was the most important thing about that, talking about my past in terms of depression, is the revelation and for us to be OK and embracing... especially us as guys, as men.

The Rock with Lauren Hashian and daughter Jasmine.
PA

"There's just a DNA, a wiring in us and a constitution that oftentimes doesn't let us talk about when we're scared or vulnerable or things like that.

"It's kind of like what's been deemed as 'toxic masculinity'. You've got to talk about it and you're not alone. I was an only child and I kept that bottled in, deep, deep. It wasn't good, so happy to share my story."

Earlier this year, the 45-year-old also opened up about how his mum, Ata, had tried to take her own life when he was just 15 years old.

Johnson and mum Ata.
PA

He told the Express: "She got out of the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and cars were swerving out of the way.

"I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road.

"What's crazy about that suicide attempt is that to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn't."

Dwayne's own mental health struggles came to a head when he was signed to - and then dropped from - the Canadian Football league.

The career blow came around the same time that his long-term girlfriend broke up with him.

He explained: "I reached a point where I didn't want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly. That was my absolute worst time.

"We both healed but we've always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain.

"We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone."

'U OK M8?' is an initiative from LADbible in partnership with a range of mental health charities which features a series of films and stories to raise awareness of mental health.

Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Reach out. It's the brave thing to do.

MIND: 0300 123 3393.

Samaritans: 116 123.

CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.

Mental Health Foundation

Featured Image Credit: ITV/PA

Topics: U OK M8, Mental Health, The Rock, Dwayne Johnson