Malakai Black Opens Up About Using Depression To Fuel Creativity

Malakai Black (Aleister Black) has opened up about living with depression, and how he previously used it to fuel his creativity.

Over the course of his almost-20 year career, Black has proven himself to be one of the most unique thinkers in wrestling. Speaking on the Drinks with Johnny podcast, Black explained how his mindset has changed over time.

The AEW talent recalled realizing that his surroundings were not appropriate for him when he was just 15 years old. Opening up about his mental health struggles, Black said:

“I remember one specific point, I was 15-years old and I remember waking up in that place after another night of way too much alcohol for a 15-year old, and I look around and there’s a dude literally injecting himself and I just go, “Wow.” It’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘I don’t think a 15-year old needs to be in this surrounding.’

“I think all that creativity, all that anger, all that frustration, all the sadness, all the hurt can create such creative passion. It literally is sometimes, and it’s sad to say, sometimes the best fuel to create some of your best work. I’ve had some of the best matches when I was mentally at my lowest point.

There was a time in my life where I thought that I was going to lose my wrestling career because I thought if I wasn’t sad or if I wasn’t depressed, I wouldn’t have any fuel to create. I wouldn’t have any fuel to make anything of myself and I would lose all the stuff that I had worked for.

“So, all this pain and anguish, and I hate using those words, they sound so edgy, but it’s not fun to have this really unhealthy mindset where you’ve convinced yourself that you can only be good if you’re absolutely f**king horrible and you destroy s**t and you deliberately get involved with people you know are not good for you.

Black was released by WWE last month. At Road Rager, Black made a surprise appearance for AEW, attacking Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes. Shortly after, it was announced that Black had officially signed with AEW.

Quote via Fightful.

• Aleister Black
• mental health
• Malakai Black
• AEW

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