Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson recently showcased his strength in a way that was a little less physical than we are used to. In a recent interview with The Express, Johnson revealed that he has been struggling with depression for decades and opened up about his mother's history with mental health issues. 

“Struggle and pain is real. I was devastated and depressed," said the 45-year-old actor. “I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly.”

Johnson said that he first encountered mental health struggles with his mother, Ata, at the tender age of 15, during her first suicide attempt. They had been evicted from their apartment two months prior. 

“She got out of the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic,” he said. Big rigs and cars were swerving out of the way."

"I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road,” he continued. “What’s crazy about that suicide attempt is that, to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t.”

The Rampage star also talked about his own struggles with depression which were made worse by his inability to live his dream of becoming a professional football player due to his many injuries. The Canadian Football League signed him but let him go after only a year. His girlfriend broke up with him shortly after he was let go.

“That was my absolute worst time,” he said.

Little did he know at that time that he would go on to become America's highest-paid actor for two consecutive years.

“We both healed but we’ve always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain,” noted Johnson, referencing his mother's struggles. “We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone.”

The pro-wrestler-turned-movie-star took to Twitter to thank those who responded warmly to his comments:

@TheRock Thank you for talking about depression openly, I know it will help a lot of people to see someone so confident that also had issues with it

myself included— Lonesamurai (@RealLonesamurai) April 2, 2018

"We all go thru [sic] the sludge/sh*t and depression never discriminates. Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up," tweeted Johnson. "Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone."

Depressiondwayne johnsonMental healthMental Health AwarenessRampagesuicide attemptThe RockvulnerabilityWrestling