Following recent comments by Randy Orton about dealing with panic attacks, fellow WWE legend Rob Van Dam has now opened up about his own battle with mental health and his journey through depression. Speaking candidly on his 1 of a Kind with RVD podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer shared powerful insight into how medication helped him cope with the loss of his father—and why he proudly stands by a “pro-drug” philosophy.
Van Dam revealed that the death of his father triggered a period of emotional instability and severe depression, ultimately pushing him to seek psychiatric help. He was prescribed Lexapro and Wellbutrin, which he credits with making a significant and empowering change in his ability to process grief.
“When I started taking the medication… right at the two-week mark, it just, it just felt like all of a sudden I had a suit of armor on,” RVD explained. “Because I would hit these conversations that used to trigger an emotional response, and all of a sudden I was able to talk about it… I couldn’t talk about what I was going through without, without breaking down… It’s been months since I could talk about my dad without bawling and it was just like, it made me, like, feel so much stronger.”
RVD also addressed the stigma surrounding medications and his often-criticized reputation as being “pro-drug.” He clarified his views, noting that responsible and therapeutic drug use should not be condemned.
“I am pro-drug. That’s because I’m honest,” Van Dam stated. “I’m pro-use. I’m also not pro-abuse. I think drug abuse is bad… but I don’t blame the f***ing drugs.”
He further tied the discussion to real-life situations, pointing out how medicine plays a crucial role in many life events—including the upcoming birth of his twins with wife Katie Forbes.
“I gotta tell you, I doubt that my wife is going to want to give birth to two twins without drugs,” he said. “But they’re going to stress me out. How can they not, you know… even being worried in the pregnancy, holy crap. That’s stressful as hell.”
With his signature honesty and openness, RVD continues to break taboos, using his platform to advocate for mental health support, responsible medication use, and candid conversations.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more updates on Rob Van Dam and all things professional wrestling.
