AJ Lee Struggled Silently With Mental Health Issues During Her First WWE Run

Diagnosed around age 19–20 (just before or early in her WWE career), she kept it completely hidden from the company and most colleagues out of fear it could cost her job in an industry with high stigma around mental health at the time.

She revealed in interviews (including a recent one on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast) that she was “never open” about it, suffering in silence as the intense pressure and stress exacerbated her condition.

Ironically, her famous “mentally unstable” or “crazy chick” storyline persona made her feel like she was “hiding in plain sight,” as WWE scripted her character that way without knowing her real diagnosis.

She couldn’t afford proper treatment early on and only a few people (like close friend Kaitlyn) had vague ideas.

After retiring in 2015, things worsened temporarily—she has spoken about a severe low point involving suicidal ideation shortly after leaving—but therapy, proper management, and support helped her turn it around.

This led to her becoming a vocal mental health advocate, detailing her journey in her 2017 memoir *Crazy Is My Superpower*.

Upon her 2025 WWE return (after a 10-year hiatus), she openly discussed therapy and mental health in promos, even sparking “Therapy!” chants from crowds—a powerful full-circle moment.

She’s now in a much better place and uses her platform to reduce stigma.

By Satish Mehra

Satish Mehra (author and owner) Welcome to REALNEWSHUB.COM Our team is dedicated to delivering insightful, accurate, and engaging news to our readers. At the heart of our editorial excellence is our esteemed author Mr. Satish Mehra. With a remarkable background in journalism and a passion for storytelling, [Author’s Name] brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to our coverage.