Prince Harry Details 'Adrenaline Crash' and Depression

Prince Harry described a profound two-week period of depression that followed his arrival in Canada in 2019, an experience he attributed to an 'adrenaline crash' after escaping a stressful environment. Speaking during a MasterClass session titled Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, the Duke of Sussex shared that he felt dysfunctional and unable to function normally for a time.

He explained that his move to Canada with Meghan and baby Archie was intended to create space away from the pressures he faced in the UK. Upon arrival, he experienced a significant drop in energy, noting, 'within two or three days, I experienced this adrenaline crash.' This led to him feeling useless at home and slipping into depression for approximately two weeks, feeling reliant on adrenaline for his brain to function.

In the same session, Harry also spoke candidly about his grief for his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. He admitted that for years, he felt he had to demonstrate sadness to prove his loss, experiencing emotional numbness and guilt about the possibility of being happy. He recalled forgetting his mother's laugh and the therapeutic impact of using her perfume, which helped him unlock locked emotions.

Reflecting on his experiences, the Duke identified himself as a 'student of grief.' He shared how he had previously tried to 'outrun' his feelings by going to war twice. He also revealed a personal 10-day rule, ensuring he is never separated from his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for more than ten days.