Mike Tyson opens up about battling drug addiction, mental health issues before Jake Paul fight
'I've learned a lot over the years from being a former drug addict. I understand my triggers and why I self-sabotage.'
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Mike Tyson has fought just as many battles outside of the ring as he has inside it, it seems.
The legendary boxer, who will return to the ring next week to fight YouTuber Jake Paul, opened about his struggles with mental health and drug addiction.
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Mike Tyson opens up about battling drug addiction, mental health issues before Jake Paul fight Back to video
In an interview with Loaded magazine, the Baddest Man on the Planet said that he now has the tools to deal with his issues after a living a difficult life.
“I still have struggles with my mental well-being, but thankfully I have better tools,” he told the magazine. “I’ve learned a lot over the years from being a former drug addict. I understand my triggers and why I self-sabotage.
“When I’m honest with myself and do that self-inventory I feel great. I think many people want to blame others for their problems without realizing 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.”
Tyson also opened up about his use of testosterone therapy and the “misconceptions” around it.
The boxing icon explained that taking hormone therapy helps both his mental and physical health, while also slamming the false narrative that men have to take testosterone because there is “something wrong with them.”
“I think there is this misconception that if men take testosterone, it’s because physically there is something wrong with them,” he told the outlet.
“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.”
Tyson is set to take on Paul in a massive boxing clash on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The fight initially was set to take place in July, but a medical emergency caused the match to be postponed.
During a cross-country flight, Tyson suffered an “ulcer flare-up” and required medical assistance.
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