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Prince Harry says fight with Meghan Markle led him to seek therapy

Prince Harry has revealed a fight with Meghan Markle led to him seeking professional help for past trauma in a new bombshell series.

In his new mental health series, The Me You Can’t See, which he created and produced with Oprah Winfrey for Apple TV+, the Duke of Sussex revealed he’s been in therapy for the past four years, after an argument with his then-girlfriend, Meghan, made him realise he might lose her if he didn’t.

prince Harry in The Me You Can't See
Prince Harry has opened up about seeking therapy for his mental health. Photo: Apple

Prince Harry opens up about argument with Meghan Markle

"I saw GPs. I saw doctors. I saw therapists. I saw alternative therapists. I saw all sorts of people, but it was meeting and being with Meghan," Harry said in the series, which dropped for Australian audiences today.

"I knew that if I didn't do the therapy and fix myself that I was going to lose this woman who I could see spending the rest of my life with.

"When she said, 'I think you need to see someone,' it was in reaction to an argument that we had. And in that argument not knowing about it, I reverted back to 12-year-old Harry.”

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Prince Harry recounted his first meeting with his therapist, saying that by the time they got to his second session she told him he sounded like he was 'reverting to 12-year-old Harry'.

Oprah in The Me You Can't See
Prince Harry and Oprah created and produced the series together. Photo: Apple

"I felt somewhat ashamed and defensive. Like, 'How dare you? You're calling me a child.' And she goes, 'No, I'm not calling you a child. I'm expressing sympathy and empathy for you for what happened to you when you were a child."

Harry said that was the start of his journey with processing the life he had lived within the institution.

Meghan on her mental health journey

It comes after Meghan Markle revealed that she "didn't want to be alive anymore" after suffering during her time living in the UK, in a previous interview with Oprah Winfrey.

"I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry. But I knew that if I didn't say it — then I would do it."

She went on to say that she asked for help, but was turned away by the institution.

"I said that, I've never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution."

Prince Harry and a pregnant Meghan Markle holding hands
Prince Harry revealed a fight with Meghan Markle led to him seeking therapy for past trauma. Photo: Getty Images

'I would probably drink a week's worth in one day'

During the new five-part documentary, Prince Harry also opened up about the severe anxiety he experienced during his late 20’s, saying he turned to drink to try to ‘mask something’.

"I would just start sweating. I would feel as though my body temperature was two or three degrees warmer than everybody else in the room. I would convince myself that my face was bright red and therefore everybody could see how I was feeling, but no one would know why, so it was embarrassing," he said. "You get in your head about it and then you're just like, 'Everybody's looking at me.' One bead of sweat feels like the whole face is pouring down. Just sweating, and then just all in my head going, 'This is so embarrassing. What are they thinking of me? They have no idea. I can't tell them.'"

"I was willing to drink. I was willing to take drugs. I was willing to try and do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling. But I slowly became aware that okay I wasn't drinking Monday to Friday, but I would probably drink a week's worth in one day on a Friday or a Saturday night. And I would find myself drinking not because I was enjoying it but because I was trying to mask something."

Mental health support for yourself or a loved one can be found by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. Online support is available via Beyond Blue.

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