WWE superstar Randy Orton has opened up in a raw and emotional conversation about his recent battle with severe anxiety and panic attacks, which came to a head during his extended injury layoff. Speaking on the What\u2019s Your Story? with Steph McMahon podcast, Orton detailed his mental health struggles and his journey to recovery.<\/p>\n
Orton explained that after his spinal fusion surgery, the loss of his identity as a wrestler took a significant toll. \u201cHere\u2019s my identity. This is who I am\u2026 the one thing I know that I\u2019m good at and I get respect for, and I can\u2019t do it anymore,\u201d he recalled thinking. \u201cAnd for like, six months, I was under the impression that that was it\u2026 I got to like, a dark place.\u201d<\/p>\n
This led to a period of intense anxiety. \u201cI was having like, panic attacks,\u201d Orton revealed. \u201cAnd it was like, it started to become hard to fly. Started to become hard to stay in another bed, and I would be, like, up all night\u2026 trying to go to bed at night and then not being able to lay down in bed, because my mind would start going, and then all of a sudden I\u2019d get, like, hot, and I\u2019d have to get out of bed\u2026 walking around our yard, just like, taking deep breaths.\u201d<\/p>\n
The struggle was something he largely kept to himself, even from his children. \u201cThere was times where\u2026 I\u2019d be with my kids\u2026 and I\u2019m, I\u2019m like, going through kind of like, I guess, an episode or something\u2026 and I\u2019m hiding,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want her to see\u2026 because I\u2019m her big, strong dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orton revealed he was prescribed SSRIs (anti-depression\/anxiety medication) for a few years to help him cope, but has now been off them for six months and is feeling like himself again. \u201cI just, I didn\u2019t know if I could do this job anymore,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI really feel like I\u2019m in like, a good place\u2026 it\u2019s kind of therapy to talk about it now.\u201d<\/p>\n