BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Schwarzenegger message helps inspire struggling fans

  • Published
    13 August 2018
Share page
About sharing
Media caption,

Arnold Schwarzenegger starts a conversation about mental health

By George Pierpoint
BBC News

A social media exchange between Arnold Schwarzenegger and a man suffering with depression has moved many online to share their stories.

Ali, who goes by the screen name "u/0770059834333178", sent Mr Schwarzenegger a message asking for some motivational words from the famous former body-builder.

He explained that he has "been depressed for months", and had stopped exercising.

Screen grab from Reddit user /u/0770059834333178Image source, Reddit / u/0770059834333178

Ali, who lives in Quebec, Canada, told the BBC: "I was just lying in bed and feeling down, when I decided to send the message. I had been feeling bad for about three months."

To Ali's surprise the Terminator actor replied. Not with an order to "snap out of it", but gentle encouragement to take "one step at a time".

Screen grab from Reddit user GovSchwarzeneggerImage source, Reddit/ GovSchwarzenegger

Ali, who describes himself as a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan, said: "I jumped out of bed and thought what's the quickest way to the gym? I used that motivation and went straight there. It was crazy."

The supportive exchange has proven very popular on Reddit, with screen grabs of the conversation receiving more than 70,000 upvotes - a sign of popularity.

The interaction moved others to share their own struggles with mental health and exercise.

Screen grab from Reddit user /u/swr3212Image source, Reddit

Taking on the role of advice-giver, Ali has been replying to many comments to offer words of encouragement.

Ali says these interactions are the "best part about all of this".

Blue line
Uplifting stories graphic
  • See more stories and videos like this

Blue line

One Reddit user wrote, external: "I've been in a personal crisis myself, haven't been to the gym in two years. This legit makes me want to cry."

Ali responded, saying: "Let your bad feelings out and cry if you need to, holding back emotions is the easiest way to go further into depression. Don't give up!"

Another user replied to Mr Schwarzenegger's message to say that she had "extreme anxiety" after the birth of her son, and was struggling to leave the house.

Screen grab from Reddit user /u/avergrany7710Image source, Reddit / u/avergrany7710

Ali responded to encourage the poster to take small steps and set objectives.

While the majority of reaction to the exchange has been positive, some have suggested the message is not an appropriate way to handle serious depression, external.

Ali responded to criticism to explain that receiving a message from Mr Schwarzenegger was personally "a huge, huge boost" which got him "amped up to hit the gym".

"Obviously depression can't just be 'cured' that easily. In my case I needed a push to do the one thing which I know helps me when I'm feeling down."

Spotting the positive interactions Ali was having with others who were struggling, Mr Schwarzenegger posted a video message, external, filmed (of course) in a gym.

Mr Schwarzenegger said he was proud that Ali was "pumping up other people that have depression and encouraging them and giving them positive reinforcement. I love that," he said.

He signed off: "Hasta la vista".

line

If you're struggling with your mental health or any of the difficulties mentioned in this article you can find help and advice here.

Top stories

  • Israel to open Gaza humanitarian corridors as aid drops begin

    • Published
      2 hours ago
  • Gaza aid site offered a 'women only' day. It didn't stop the killing

    • Published
      4 hours ago
  • Security tightens as Donald Trump plays golf at Turnberry

    • Published
      4 hours ago

More to explore

  • Why we need to talk about periods, breasts and injuries in women's sport

    Chloe running towards the camera with her arms to her sides, wearing white shorts and white sports bra with her England shirt twirled up in her right hand, screaming with joy, blonde hair flying
  • How reality TV changed the way we think - for the better

    A treated image showing an old TV screen with a close up eye
  • Sleep, exercise, hydrate - do we really need to stick to recommended daily doses?

    A woman wearing black leggings and pink athletic shoes, standing on a set of black steps. One foot is placed on a higher step while the other remains on a lower one, suggesting an exercise or stretching.
  • ​​What is inside the GHF food aid box being distributed in Gaza?

    An image showing a young man carrying an box of aid with the GHF logo emblazoned on it. He is wearing a dark shirt with Nike Air written on it. Several other people are walking alongside him, and the image is imposed over the BBC Verify branding and colours.
  • School-leavers losing their lives for Russia in Putin's war with Ukraine

    Separate photos of two boys, one in a white judo outfit and the other a black tracksuit top
  • French pledge to recognise Palestine is a gamble - so will Starmer follow suit?

    Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron
  • How Epstein case is tearing apart Maga's online conspiracy wing

    Red hats with Donald Trump's Maga logo are handed out at an event
  • Why is River Island in trouble?

    A group of young people walk past a River Island store with sale signs in the window
  • News Daily: Our flagship daily newsletter delivered to your inbox first thing, with all the latest headlines

    A promo promoting the News Daily newsletter - a graphic of an orange sphere with two concentric crescent shapes around it in a red-orange gradient, like a sound wave.
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Pubs and venues to be protected from noise complaints

  2. 2

    Security tightens as Donald Trump plays golf at Turnberry

  3. 3

    Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works, director tells BBC

  4. 4

    'My dad started spying on my mum' - the drugs causing sexual urges

  5. 5

    Israel to open Gaza humanitarian corridors as aid drops begin

  6. 6

    Hundreds of protesters gather at asylum hotel

  7. 7

    Sleep, exercise, hydrate - do we really need to stick to recommended daily doses?

  8. 8

    School-leavers losing their lives for Russia in Putin's war with Ukraine

  9. 9

    'We were sure we wouldn't bump into each other at uni'

  10. 10

    Gaza aid site offered a 'women only' day. It didn't stop the killing

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • New drama from writer Jimmy McGovern

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Unforgivable
  • The Bafta award-winning comedy returns

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Such Brave Girls
  • An epic road trip across Vietnam

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Top Gear
  • Amol Rajan and Billy Bragg chat politics

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Radical with Amol Rajan
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.