Former WWE star CJ Perry (Lana) revealed significant personal health changes during her recent interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, including getting sober and coming off ADHD medication.
"I also got sober. I stopped drinking. That was a huge part," Perry disclosed. "And I was prescribed prescriptions for my ADHD and I had to come off of that. And that was also a really big change. It is, you know, I it's hard for me to read. I'm very dyslexic. So, I do have other challenges not having medication, but my happiness and my well-being and my relationships are so much better."
Her Personal Struggle
Perry explained how her undiagnosed ADHD had severely impacted her marriage and mental health during her WWE run. She described WWE as "the perfect storm" for her condition due to the constant travel, new cities, and dopamine hits from performing.
I struggled with being very ADHD and severely anxiety anxious and just triggered me into like this manic time of my life that I couldn't I didn't understand that that was an issue for me," Perry said. "My marriage was suffering from me being severely ADHD and severely anxious.
The statistics she shared were sobering. "I think divorce rate is 50% more in ADHD people. Depression and anxiety is 50% more in ADHD people and suicide is 50% more in ADHD people because nothing's good enough and you get bored and you want to move on," she explained.
Rock Bottom and Recovery
Perry's WWE release in 2021 triggered a mental health crisis. After receiving divorce papers from Miro, she couldn't get out of bed for two weeks. A podcast featuring Kendall Jenner discussing anxiety on Jay Shetty's show helped Perry finally recognize what she was experiencing.
Her recovery process involved multiple approaches beyond sobriety. Perry started walking 30 minutes daily, eating organic food, attending therapy and acupuncture sessions. She also spent the final two months caring for her 94-year-old grandfather before he passed away last August, which she described as a turning point.
"It made me that really was a turning point for me too cuz I felt more gratitude and more purpose and love by giving and helping and serving other people than just pushing myself," Perry reflected.
While coming off ADHD medication presents challenges with reading due to her dyslexia, Perry emphasized the trade-off has been worthwhile for her overall happiness and relationship quality. She and Miro have since reconciled, with both signing new WWE deals.
Check out CJ Perry's new podcast Identity Crisis with co-host Jonathan Saba, and follow her on social media @thecjperry.