Big E Shares How Daily Meditation Helped Him Beat Depression

In a candid TEDxDavenport talk, former WWE Champion Big E opened up about his long‑standing struggle with major depressive disorder and how a daily meditation practice became a lifeline during the pandemic and beyond.

From the Ring to the Mind

Big E, whose real name is Darren W. Brown, has been a household name in professional wrestling for over a decade. Yet behind the larger‑than‑life persona, he has faced a private battle that began at age 19. He described living with a severe form of depression that included psychotic features, a reality that made everyday life feel like a constant fight.

Isolation Amplified the Struggle

The COVID‑19 pandemic intensified the isolation that many wrestlers already felt. With travel restrictions and a pause on live events, Big E found himself cut off from the camaraderie of the locker room and the adrenaline of the crowd. “I was alone in a world that felt like it was moving on without me,” he said in his talk.

Finding Calm in Meditation

In search of relief, Big E turned to meditation. He adopted a simple, daily routine that focused on breath awareness and body scans. The practice helped him recognize early warning signs of mood shifts and provided a non‑judgmental space to process emotions.

Redefining Success and Closure

As his wrestling career drew to a close, meditation also offered a new lens through which to view retirement. Instead of seeing it as an abrupt end, he began to view it as a transition—an opportunity to apply the same discipline that had kept him in the ring to his personal life.

What This Means for Fans and Fellow Athletes

Big E’s story underscores the importance of mental health resources for athletes. By sharing his journey, he hopes to reduce stigma and encourage others to seek help—whether through therapy, support groups, or mindfulness practices.

For more details on Big E’s TEDx talk and his insights into mental health, visit the original article on Wrestling Headlines.

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