Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were interviewed on an episode of the "Teenager Therapy" podcast that aired Saturday.- At the beginning of the episode, Markle said: "I'm told that in 2019, I was the most trolled person in the entire world, male or female."
- "What was able to just be manufactured and churned out, it's almost unsurvivable," Markle continued.
- Markle and Harry, who were interviewed in honor of
World Mental Health Day , discussed how they cope with hardship and cyberbullying through tactics like meditation and journaling.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave an exclusive interview on an episode of the "Teenager Therapy" podcast, which aired on Saturday for World
The description for the "Teenager Therapy" podcast series says: "Five stressed, sleep-deprived, yet energetic teens sit down and talk about the struggles that come with being a teenager. Is high school really as bad as everyone says?"
In the interview, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry discussed the importance of speaking openly about mental health, how they stay calm in situations that may be nerve-wracking, and how they cope with hardships.
Toward the beginning of the episode, one of the five hosts of "Teenager Therapy" asked Markle and Harry how they deal with feelings of loneliness, especially amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has led many people to spend more time on
"If you're not in school, then you're finding yourselves on your devices or online more, and there's a lot of vulnerability there that I think so many people are experiencing," Markle said. "Yes, it's a great way to connect, but it also ends up being a place where there's a lot of disconnection."
"You know, I can speak personally, too. I'm told that in 2019, I was the most trolled person in the entire world, male or female," Markle said. "Now, eight months of that, I wasn't even visible — I was on maternity leave or with the baby — but was able to just be manufactured and churned out, it's almost unsurvivable."
She continued: "That's so big, you can't even think of what that feels like, because I don't care if you're 15 or you're 25, if people are saying things about you that aren't true, what that does to your mental and emotional health is so damaging."
Markle's response in the interview was a nod to the backlash she faced in the British press upon becoming a member of the royal family. Markle was often ridiculed in the media for doing the same things as Kate Middleton — who was scarcely criticized — and in court documents for her court case against the Mail on Sunday, Markle said that she felt "unprotected by the institution" as a working member of the royal family.
"Even though our experience is unique to us and obviously can seem very different to what people experience on the day-to-day, it's still a human experience, and that's universal," Markle continued in the podcast episode. "We all know what it feels like to have our feelings hurt, we all know what it feels like to be isolated or othered."
One of the podcast hosts then asked Markle and Harry how they focus on their wellbeing when they're in the spotlight.
Harry chimed in, saying: "It's a lot. There are good days, there are bad days, but I think putting your self-care as a priority is hugely important because look, vulnerability is not a weakness. Showing vulnerability in today's world especially is a strength and we can certainly see that more from some global leaders."
Listen to the full interview with Markle and Harry on the latest episode of "Teenager Therapy."
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex declined to comment, and representatives for "Teenager Therapy" did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
- Read more:
- The inside story of Harry and Meghan's great escape from royal life, as told by 2 comic creators
- Meghan Markle said her comments were 'not controversial' after Trump criticized the duchess for weighing in on the election
- Meghan Markle could 'seriously consider running for president' if she gave up her title, a source close to the duchess told Vanity Fair
- Meghan Markle says she was 'unprotected' by the royal family, and that she wasn't allowed to defend herself against the press