“My wife and kids were concerned”: Alan Ritchson opens up on mental health struggles in candid interview

In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Alan Ritchson, the actor, candidly discussed the mental health struggles he has experienced throughout the years, describing it as an “existential crisis.”He recounted:

“My wife and kids were concerned, and I could see confusion in their eyes. Nobody knew what was wrong”

Additionally, Alan Ritchson recalled how his life was saved by a “vision”he had of his three sons in their mid-30s. This experience prompted him to contact his doctor and receive a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at the age of 36.

After that, the topic of “mental health”has become a regular topic of discussion for the Smallville star.

Overcoming ADHD: Alan Ritchson’s Journey

On April 3, The Hollywood Reporter published a candid chat with Alan Ritchson titled “The High Highs and Low Lows of Alan Ritchson.”The interview, conducted by Chris Gardner, centered on the 41-year-old’s mental health challenges throughout the years.

In 2019, during his time abroad, he experienced a falling out with his business partner while establishing a film funding company. This situation greatly affected him. Upon his return to the USA, he focused on completing the post-production of Dark Web: Cicada 3301, a film that he was involved in writing, directing, producing, and acting in. Unfortunately, even this project was not enough to alleviate his troubles. Ritchson expressed,

“It was really disappointing and became a perfect storm… I was super depressed and didn’t know how to navigate that… I was reeling from the fallout and the fatigue, and it got to the point where I was stuck in bed for weeks”

Despite being saved by producer D.J. Viola, who took over for him when he was struggling, Alan Ritchson’s crisis persisted. He sought help from his doctor and was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was later diagnosed with ADHD as well.

“Deep down, I was comforted to know, ‘Okay, there’s a name for this’ ”

The leading actor of Reacher clarified how the diagnoses provided him with direction towards his journey to recovery.

Alan Ritchson posing for The Hollywood Reporter Cover. (Image via X/ @THR)

He also remembered how his difficulties pushed him to experiment with drugs as a way to deal with his problems. Nevertheless, after a few challenging months, he was able to overcome it and discover his life’s purpose.

“I came out of that whole thing asking myself, ‘Okay if I am going to choose to be alive here — a decision we all make, some to a greater degree than others — what am I doing? Why am I here?’” he added.

The Blood Drive actor proceeded by adding:

“What I kept falling back on was the meaning and purpose of life as someone who believes that there is a creator and we are created beings, our purpose in life is, without qualification, to make the world a better place and serve others. That is what life is all about.”

Despite wishing he didn’t have to live with it, Alan Ritchson acknowledges that being bipolar has caused significant turmoil in his life. He understands that it is now a part of his identity and therefore, he must learn to accept it.

He concluded by expressing that mental health was a constant focus for him and that he consistently maintains communication with his doctors, who are always available to support him throughout his journey.