Before Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson became the most successful wrestler-turned-actor, he secretly battled depression. Johnson said his battle with the mental illness started after witnessing his mother, Ata, attempt suicide in a drastic way after getting evicted from their home. Johnson said, “She got out of the car on the Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and cars were swerving out the way. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road.”

After that traumatic experience, the then 15-year-old’s symptoms began to worsen: “I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly.”

But there was more disappointment to come. A few years later he wanted to play professional football and then got cut from the Canadian Football League within a year of signing a deal due to having many injuries. Shortly after that his girlfriend broke up with him. In fear of becoming suicidal like his mother, Johnson sought help and began to recover.