‘The Me You Can’t See’ Recap: ‘Say It Out Loud’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Me You Can’t See’.

It is definitely safe to say, that mankind has achieved incredible wonders when it comes to our physical health. Because not only have we conquered a great deal of the viruses that once plagued and ravaged humanity, but we are able to now mend badly broken bones and stop heart attacks and strokes from finishing what they started, and we can even see inside a person’s body and know exactly where an issue is hiding within. But while these advancements have greatly extended our lives and the lives of our loved ones, we surprisingly have made little progress on healing the human mind and psyche. Because sadly, we still view mental health as a minor issue, the kind that a person should be able to push past and overcome… when in fact, that particular view is wholly incorrect.
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For mental health can determine a great deal of things about how we go about our day and function and when our minds are not at their peak performance… we struggle and we stumble and what’s amazing, is that we are only now starting to have conversations about how important mental health is to maintain. But while it is nice to see people begin to recognize that the mind needs to be healed and cared for in a manner similar to our bodies, there are a lot of questions as to how exactly we properly seek the care our minds sometimes need. Thankfully though, Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, have decided to join forces with AppleTV+ in order to explore that exact path forward by way of the new documentary series, The Me You Can’t See, and as it turns out, the series premiere of this fascinating show takes the time to explore the first steps to healing one’s mind. 

For ‘Say It Out Loud’ makes it inherently clear that our first step is to do as the title says and acknowledge that there is a problem. Which means we cannot listen to stigma or what anyone else says about our mental health… we need to be honest with ourselves and announce to the face in the mirror that something is wrong and that it needs to be addressed and it doesn’t hurt to try to understand the root cause of what’s eating at us as well. Which could be related to childhood trauma such as unresolved loss and grief, or perhaps we went through some seriously traumatic experiences in our youth. Or it could relate to the fact that some of us do indeed harbor a genuine disorder, such as say OCD, and that can have an impact on how we live if it remains untreated and of course... trauma in general can lead to a great deal of problems for us, to the point where it can paralyze us and put us in a dark place until we deal with it.

But while it is indeed powerful to hear that message, in order for it to truly resonate with a viewer, this documentary presents such issues in a powerful manner, by having people who struggle or have struggled with these exact issues, explain their journey firsthand. Which allowed for us to hear from people from all walks of life and feel their raw emotion when it comes to their plight and that made for some tearful moments for certain. The kind that genuinely help us to understand that burying these problems and rolling with the stigma and the status quo causes more harm than good. But if we say aloud what’s eating at us and what’s truly putting in such a dark place… we can start the long road to recovery and find some semblance of peace and joy in our lives and well… this was quite the powerful way to get the point across.

Because when this opening chapter has come to its close, you are silent. Because this resonates with the viewer on a fundamental level, and it makes you wonder if by chance you’ve addressed some of the darker thoughts that sometimes poke about and most important of all, this episode helps you to realize that you’re not alone on those dark days. Because if the Duke of Sussex and Lada Gaga go through days where they don’t want to get out of bed or are eager to drink their troubles away… then this really is a human condition, one that can no longer be ignored. Because mental health is truly as important as physical health, and the time has come to explore how we heal and how we move forward and it will be quite interesting to see how this magnificent and dynamic series is going to showcase that in the days to come as it continues its examination of a problem that has sat in the shadows, for far too long.

‘The Me You Can’t See’ is streaming now, exclusively on AppleTV+.   

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