The Rock says that when he was 15, his mother attempted suicide by walking into oncoming traffic…right in front of him. She survived, but he struggled with his own depression after that.
He says, “She got out of the car…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.”
Not long after that, The Rock’s dream of playing in the NFL was torpedoed by injuries, and he had a girlfriend break up with him. He could’ve become suicidal like his mom, but he worked hard to establish inner strength.
He says, “I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly…[my mother and I] 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.”