Princess Diana’s ‘mental health struggles’ as she joked about ‘men in white coats dragging her off’
The late Princess of Wales hit back at the stereotypes she was painted with
Princess Diana faced a slew of stereotypes due to her battle with poor mental health. So much so, she decided to break the stigma and acknowledge the negative narrative that plagued her.
The “People’s Princess” may have appeared to have had a lavish lifestyle. Her personal life seemed to be filled with the finer things in life; glamour, romance, and travel, but she also faced many struggles.
Despite this, Diana wasn’t afraid to poke fun at her difficulties, in a bid to open up.
Princess Diana opened up about mental health
The princess famously struggled with bulimia. She had also spoken of self-injury and the feeling of a low self-worth.
In the 90s, Diana told her “true story” through a series of interviews with writer Andrew Morton.
Morton went on to publish Diana: Her True Story, based on these recordings. It was here that Diana confirmed that she had been struggling with an eating disorder.
In a 1995 interview with the BBC, Diana described bulimia as a “symptom of what was going on in my marriage,” alluding to the then Prince Charles’s infidelity.
Diana’s admission was not only eye-opening, but her frank disclosures helped champion conversation around mental health struggles.
“You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb. And you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable. You fill your stomach up four or five times a day. Some do it more. And it gives you a feeling of comfort,” the princess admitted in a bombshell Panorama interview on the BBC.
Another inspiring moment where Diana opened up about her mental health has been doing the rounds on social media.
The clip shows Diana poking fun at the serious subject and bringing light to her mental health struggles. Likely in hopes of encouraging others to talk about their own difficulties, whilst owning her narrative.
Princess Diana hit back at stereotypes regarding her battle with bulimia
At the time, this not only shared a glimpse into the reality of her life, but with humour, hit back at the inaccurate stereotypes surrounding those who suffer from poor mental health.
Reports at the time claimed Diana’s speech “ridiculed reports” that she was “suffering a recurrence of an eating disorder she once described as stemming from a ‘spiral of secret despair'”.
In the 1993 speech, where Diana told an audience of charity workers they were lucky to have her at their London meeting, the princess mockingly referred to the claims about her mental health.
“I think you are very fortunate to have your patron here today, I was supposed to have my head down the loo for most of the day. I am supposed to be dragged off the minute I leave here by men in white coats,” Diana stated at the time. All the while, she sported a teasing smirk on her face.
“If it is all right with you, I thought I would postpone my nervous breakdown to a more appropriate moment. It is amazing what a migraine can bring on.”
The then 32-year-old princess was referring to reports that she had been suffering from a migraine earlier that week.
The rumours were sparked when she was photographed with tears in her eyes.
Princess Diana’s inspiring thoughts on Women and Mental Health
In her own unique fashion, the princess swiped back.
She smirked with the audience and shared knowing looks, portraying how her story was not to be told or twisted by others, but to be shared with her own voice.
Diana had often wrongly been dismissed as emotional or unreliable, due to her struggles.
In June of 1993, Diana addressed the topic of Women and Mental Health with an inspiring speech.
“Women and Mental Health. Where do we start?” Diana said at the time.
“From those I have spoken to through my work with ‘Turning Point’, the beginning seems to be that women in our society are seen as the carers. The ones who can cope. Whatever life throws at them. They will always cope.
“On call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Whether their children are sick, their husbands are out of work or their parents are old and frail and need attending, they will cope. They will cook and clean, go out to work, attend to the needs of those around them. And they will cope.
‘Women in our society are seen as the carers – the ones who can cope’
“They may be suffering themselves, from postnatal depression, violence in the home, or struggling in a daze of exhaustion and stress to make ends meet – but they will cope.
“Strangely, it is women themselves as well as men who believe this to be true. So deep-seated is this belief that it can take enormous courage for women to admit they cannot cope, that they may need help. Either from family and friends or the support systems put in place by you the professionals.”
She went on to say: “Frequently they will attempt to survive it alone, falling ‘helplessly’ into a deeper and darker depression as they feel more and more trapped by the life they are leading. As their world closes in on them, their self-esteem evaporates into a haze of loneliness and desperation as they retreat further and further from those who could help them.
Princess Diana urged people to look deeper
“Many women and men turn to alcohol to numb the pain of their despair. But because it is seen in women as less acceptable to admit to a dependence on alcohol, it often goes unnoticed. They are merely perceived as having a ‘rather nervous disposition’. The suffering behind their anxious eyes so often goes unseen.”
The princess inspiringly urged listeners to look deeper into the intricacies of mental health as well as the potential causes of a subsequent decline.
Diana said: “Perhaps we need to look more closely at the cause of the illness rather than attempt to suppress it. To accept that putting a lid on powerful feelings and emotions cannot be the healthy option. That to offer women the opportunity to explain their predicament sooner, could be a far more effective use of limited resources, rather than wait until their strength to survive has been sapped.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at any time.
Read more: Inside Princess Diana and Queen Camilla’s unlikely friendship before infamous affair
So, what do you think of this story? Do you think Princess Diana should have opened up about her mental health? Are you a fan of her inspiring speeches? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Royal Insider Facebook page.
