Valerie Bertinelli Opens Up About Her Anxiety

Actress Valerie Bertinelli opened up about her battle with anxiety in an emotional Instagram post Sunday.

“I’ve sat on this post for a day because it’s incredibly vulnerable and that’s always scary to share,” the Food Network alum wrote in the caption. “But I’m posting because we’re all out here doing our best having a human experience and none of us want to feel like we’re alone in that. 🤍V.”

The caption appeared under a video of her hand shaking uncontrollably as she struggled to steady her body.

“So I don’t know if you can tell from this video (and my heart is still beating a little rapidly as I write this) I had a really bad anxiety attack today,” Bertinelli admitted to her 1.6 million followers. “I haven’t had one like this in a very, very long time.”

Bertinelli opened up about the emotional turmoil she had been experiencing.

“A few hours ago, I was weeping uncontrollably, and my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest. I couldn’t stop shaking,” she wrote. “I know I’m taking a chance, but, I want to share it because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one out here who has experienced this. Gratefully these attacks have become much more infrequent, so this one took me a little bit by surprise today.”

“This is the after effect. As I’m going through the actual attack (lol attack is such an appropriate word. My body and my mind feels like it’s actually under attack 😅) Anyway… I almost disassociate and am focused solely on calming down and finding any road to a more relaxed and peaceful body,” the actress continued.

“I know it’s just my brain overthinking and catastrophizing but my body goes into overdrive and I have no control over it. Hours later, as I’m doing my best to meditate and EMDR my way out of this, this is the after effect that I can’t quite seem to calm all the way yet,” she told her fans.

“Part of me is fascinated by what the human body is capable of when our feelings can get in the way or override any reasonable thought and another part of me is just curious on how all of this happens, you know the weird neuropathies in our brain and how it affects our bodies, what feelings (which are just information btw) are and why are they so powerful that they make our body go into overdrive.”

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 15: Valerie Bertinelli prepares a dish at the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented By Coca-Cola – Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Samsung® Culinary Demonstrations presented by Mastercard at Pier 94 on October 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

“Anyone else experience an extreme anxiety attack, and then the after effects still take a bit to calm? Tell me I’m not the only one out here 😬 and is there anything that you have also found to be helpful?” she wrote. (RELATED: ‘Eating My Body’: Ringo Starr Reveals Major Health Battle)

“Anyway…this little bit of vulnerability is brought to you by someone who wants you to know you’re not alone. Love you 🤍,” Bertinelli concluded.