Mike Tyson Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles and Battle with Addiction

LeBron & Bronny James talks to Taylor Rooks after the first father son duo in NBA history.

Photo Cred: Harry How/Getty Images

By: Joshua Martin

Known as one of the most dominant athletes the world has ever seen, Mike Tyson’s journey to the top was notoriously filled with adversity and controversy. The 58-year-old former two time Heavyweight boxing champion left an unforgettable mark on the sport of boxing, his combination of power, speed and intensity made him one of the more memorable figures in boxing history.

In a recent interview with Loaded Magazine, The World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee opened up about his struggles with drug addiction and how the experience has shaped his personal outlook on life.

“I still have struggles with my mental well being but thankfully I have better tools. I’ve learned a lot over the years from being a former drug addict. I understand my triggers and why I self sabotage. ”

— Mike Tyson, Loaded Magazine

Later in the interview, Tyson opened about his testosterone usage, while attacking the stigma placed around the hormone. Adding that an insufficient level of the hormone has been shown to alter one’s mind-state and emotions. 

“I think many people want to blame others for their problems without realising they are a part of their own story and they can redirect their life at any time. But that’s only possible if you’re honest with yourself about how you got to where you are now.”

— Mike Tyson, Loaded Magazine

Currently, Tyson is preparing for his highly-anticipated boxing match against YouTube sensation Jake Paul. Despite numerous delays and false starts, the bout is scheduled to be held on Nov. 15th at AT&T stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match will also be streamed globally on Netflix.

“I think there is this misconception that if men take testosterone it’s because physically there is something wrong with them. But from the age of 30, I don’t care how healthy you are, your testosterone levels drop. This affects more than just your physicality, it also affects your mood. Getting a testosterone plan as you age should be as normal for a man as taking a daily supplement in my opinion, because it does so much to stabilize the body and mind.”

— Mike Tyson, Loaded Magazine

Bronny, the 55th pick of last year’s draft, said sharing the floor with his dad made playing in his first career NBA game even more memorable. The two of them almost had a moment when Lebron passed the ball to Bronny on the wing for a wide-open three pointer but unfortunately the 20 year old’s jumper did not fall. 

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