American comedian and actor Chris Rock has revealed that he has been undergoing therapy for several years, saying the experience has helped him deal with feelings of insecurity that became more pronounced after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 61-year-old opened up about his personal struggles in a recent interview, explaining that much of his therapy has focused on building confidence and reminding himself that he is enough.
“I’ve been doing a lot of therapy the last few years, post-COVID, and a lot of it is about not feeling insecure. A lot of it is about ‘you’re enough,’” Rock said.
However, he clarified that his insecurities are not necessarily about his status or success in the entertainment industry. Instead, he sometimes finds himself comparing his level of work and productivity with people around him.
Rock said meeting people who appear to be working harder than him can make him question himself.
“Occasionally, I’ll meet people that are obviously working harder than me, and that’ll make me feel insecure,” he said.
He mentioned longtime friend and fellow comedian Adam Sandler, as well as record producer Rick Rubin, as examples of people whose impressive productivity sometimes makes him reflect on his own output.
“You’re like, ‘How many things are you doing right now?’” Rock said.
The comedian also acknowledged that his insecurities extend into his role as a father.
Rock shares two daughters, Lola and Zahra, with his former wife, Malaak Compton-Rock. While reflecting on his parenting, he admitted that he sometimes feels other parents may be better with their children.
“Some people are better with their kids than me,” he said. “I think I’m a good dad.”
Rock’s reflections on insecurity also influenced his latest filmmaking project, Misty Green, an upcoming movie he wrote, directed and stars in alongside Rosalind Eleazar.
The film represents Rock’s return to directing a feature movie after a 12-year break. His previous feature film was Top Five, which was released in 2014.
Rock said his time away from directing coincided with several major changes in his life, including the COVID-19 pandemic, professional disappointments and the end of his marriage.
Looking back on the period, he said the pandemic forced him to reassess his life and think about what he wanted to do next.
“COVID was a time to be like, ‘OK, what am I doing with my life?’” Rock said, adding that he had “a lot of stuff going on” during his time away from directing.
The actor’s comments offer a more personal look at the experiences that shaped his years away from filmmaking and his decision to return behind the camera with Misty Green.
