“I Had a Lot of Social Anxiety”: 55-Year-Old Joe Rogan Reveals How MMA Helped Him Overcome Mental Health Struggles During Younger Days

It is hard to imagine Joe Rogan, who has befriended the microphone, struggling with social anxiety. UFC commentator has built his career around juggling and performing on a mic. He not only captivates MMA fans with his commentary but also entertains them with his hilarious jokes. Further, through his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, he tries to connect with them and presents his authentic, vulnerable self. After spending three decades performing before a crowd, he finally opened up about his struggles with social anxiety.

The 55-year-old disclosed to Gabriel Iglesias how his fascination with martial arts helped him overcome his struggles with anxiety on his podcast. As expected, both comics indulged in a conversation that revealed the tumult trajectory of their comedy career. After ‘Fluffy’ mentioned he had to sleep in a car in his early days, Rogan recalled his initial days as a comic, which left him with no money, healthcare, and without a roof above his head. Moreover, Iglesias pointed out that while some fear jumping off a clip, most can’t handle being in front of a crowd.

Obsession with MMA eased the social anxiety woes of Joe Rogan

The popular TV presenter recollected his own struggles in the interaction with Iglesias. In Ep.#2001 of JRE, he told him getting used to talking to people was “huge”. Also, getting comfortable with the silence during the gigs was a hallmark of a good comedian.

He admitted he was teaching martial arts, and that’s how he got used to people listening to him. This worked wonders for the color commentator, who had to deal with social anxiety. Furthermore, the groups of people swarming around him for demonstrations only helped him overcome his dread.

He said, “I was teaching martial arts, so I was used to people listening to me. I did that. I think that helped me a lot. ‘Cause I had a lot of social anxiety when I was young, like just talking to people.”

“Then when I had to learn how to teach people, you know. I teach classes all the times. I always had like groups of people to do those demonstrating things too. So I got used to talking to people that way,” he added later.

It is no wonder Rogan has established himself as a household, as he never gave up and faced his adversities head-on. Currently, his podcast JRE holds the bragging rights of being the most popular in the world.

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What do you think of this revelation by UFC commentator Joe Rogan? Do you believe his passion for MMA turned around his career? Let us know in the comments below.

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