Valerie Bertinelli recently experienced a harrowing anxiety attack. The 64-year-old former Food Network star shared an Instagram video on Sunday showing her hand trembling, and she detailed the "frightening" episode in a heartfelt caption. "I've hesitated to post this for a day because it's deeply personal, and sharing such vulnerability is always daunting," Bertinelli wrote. "But I'm sharing because we're all striving to navigate our human journey, and none of us want to feel isolated in our struggles."
"So, I'm not sure if you can discern from this video (and my heart is still pounding slightly as I type this), but I had a severe anxiety attack today," she explained. "It's been a long time since I've had one this intense. A few hours ago, I was uncontrollably sobbing, and my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest. I couldn't stop shaking."
The "One Day at a Time" actress admitted she's taking a risk by sharing her story, but she hopes to connect with others who have faced similar experiences. "Thankfully, these attacks have become much less frequent, so this one caught me off guard today," she shared. "This is the aftermath. As I was going through the actual attack (lol, 'attack' is such a fitting word. My body and mind felt like they were under siege 😅)."
Bertinelli continued, "I nearly dissociated and focused entirely on calming down and finding any path to a more relaxed and peaceful state. Because I know it's just my brain overthinking and catastrophizing, but my body reacts in overdrive, and I have no control over it. Hours later, as I'm doing my best to meditate and use EMDR to recover, this is the lingering aftermath that I can't quite calm completely yet."
"Has anyone else experienced an extreme anxiety attack, followed by lingering effects that take time to settle?" she asked her followers. "Let me know I'm not the only one out here 😬 and if there's anything you've found helpful?"
"Anyway…this moment of vulnerability is shared with you by someone who wants you to know you're not alone. Love you 🤍," Bertinelli concluded her message.
Fans rallied behind Bertinelli in the comments section. Many of her followers, who have also dealt with anxiety attacks, assured Bertinelli that she's "not alone."
"Thank you for sharing such raw vulnerability. It can strike even during the happiest moments. Grateful for your posts," one fan wrote.
"Val, you're so brave to share… unexpected and terrifying!" another person commented.
A third fan added, "Aww, I feel for you…you are only human."
Bertinelli has been candid about her recent health challenges. Last month, she injured her arm after tripping on a stage. "I would ask for hazard pay, but it was my own fault," Bertinelli wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the injury. The TV personality, who also calls herself a "klutz," mentioned she was working on a "fun new project" when the accident happened.
Her recent health scare comes after she reportedly ended her relationship with boyfriend Mike Goodnough after 10 months.
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