Valerie Bertinelli shared a deeply personal moment with her fans, revealing the lingering impact of a recent anxiety attack. On Nov. 17, the actress posted an Instagram video showing her trembling hand resting on a table, accompanied by a vulnerable message about her experience.
“I’m doing my best. Oof, the aftereffects of an anxiety attack f–king suck,” she said in the clip. In her caption, Bertinelli admitted she hesitated to share the post, writing, “It’s incredibly vulnerable and that’s always scary to share.” However, she ultimately chose to open up, explaining, “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.”
Bertinelli recounted the attack, saying, “I had a really bad anxiety attack today. I haven’t had one like this in a very, very long time. 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”, reported by PEOPLE.
She described how anxiety attacks make her feel detached, focusing entirely on calming down. “I almost disassociate and am focused solely on calming down and finding any road to a more relaxed and peaceful body,” she explained. “Because 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, Bertinelli’s body was still trembling. She reached out to her followers for support, asking, “Tell me I’m not the only one out here 😬 and is there anything that you have also found to be helpful?”
Fans responded with empathy and advice, sharing their coping techniques. Suggestions included counting deep breaths, placing hands in ice-cold water, and eating sour candy to shock the body into refocusing. Others simply praised her bravery, with one writing, “I think it’s really beautiful you’ve chosen to share this because I’m sure it will help others out there feel less alone and realize it’s okay to be vulnerable and ask for help.”
Bertinelli’s openness about her struggles, including her recent decision to stop drinking as she ages, continues to resonate with fans. By sharing her experiences, she is helping to normalize discussions around mental health and encouraging others to seek support when they need it.