Not alrighty then

How Jim Carrey helped Raptors icon DeMar DeRozan face depression

- DEMAR DEROZAN

DeMar DeRozan was in Toronto on Friday to promote his first book, "Above the Noise."

This is an excerpt from DeMar DeRozan’s new book “Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm,” revealing what happened in the hours before the Raptors icon posted the tweet during the 2018 all-star weekend that changed the NBA conversation on mental health.

The house emptied out. With the girls asleep upstairs, the house was finally quiet. But instead of peace and calm, the sounds of my youth filled my mind. A couple hours passed, and I was finally able to peel myself off the couch and head upstairs to try to get a full night’s sleep for the first time in who knows how long. I lay there awake for what seemed like days but was probably more like 30 minutes. Defeated, I grabbed my phone and began aimlessly scrolling on YouTube. Eventually, I came across an interview with Jim Carrey talking about mental health and depression. I’d always had a fascination with Jim Carrey. But not because of his movies or any of the roles he’s played.

From as far back as I can remember, I was enamoured with the life stories of people who overcame a rough environment or upbringing to make something of themselves.

His story was top of my list. The more different someone’s upbringing was from mine, the more I wanted to know. It was just like all those hours I’d spent alone at the beach at night, lost in the moon and wondering what else was out there. I knew there was more to the world than Compton — for better and worse. As bad as it was where I grew up, I knew other people had their own experiences to conquer. I wanted to know what motivated them.