'I'm Long Over the Narcissist': Valerie Bertinelli on Healing After Her Divorce

Chisom Ndianefo
Close up of Valerie Bertinelli, smiilng.
Getty | Frazer Harrison

Child star Valerie Bertinelli opened up about healing from her "narcissistic" husband after their divorce. She shared a video discussing her journey to self-discovery and happiness after ending her marriage to Tom Vitale.

Opening Up About Her Feelings

The actress used her Instagram feed to share the video saying Rolfing changed her life and helped her fulfill her potential. Bertinelli said the procedure healed her connective tissues and rid her of emotional pain. Hence, the 62-year-old didn't care about the physical discomfort.

Message For Her Fans

Bertinelli addressed her 1.1 million followers, saying she'd understand if they wanted her to get over the divorce and stop talking about it. However, she wanted them to know what she was going through.

The 62-year-old said she's over her ex but decided to discuss what made her "tolerate the intolerable."

Helping Others Realize Self-Love

Bertinelli added that she's working on understanding why she lasted that long and how she can help others heal from those parts of themselves. The actress said she's happier and joyful as she feels deserving of the good things in her life.

The Perks Of Dry January

Bertinelli's Instagram is a self---love haven for her followers as she describes her health and wellness process. She had a Dry January, where she avoided alcohol to keep her body healthy as the year began.

Reaching Self-Actualization

The 62-year-old said it was a transformational process as it helped her develop emotional intelligence and appreciate herself better. She no longer cared about temporary discomforts as long as it meant reaching a desired goal.

The End Goal Is The Most Important

In Bertinelli's words, the rewards are the most important parts of the self-discovery process. She reminded her followers that the pain and sad feelings don't disappear immediately as they often return after periods of feeling great.

Face Your Fears For Healing

For Bertinelli, facing such lingering feelings is the best way to overcome them. That way, the sufferer can learn their triggers and work on healing themselves. The actress asked her social media followers to help each other instead of criticizing themselves.

Finalizing Her Divorce For Peace Of Mind

Tom Vitale and Valerie Betinelli at a press event for Disney movie Ratatouille.
Flickr | rodgersodimba

Finalizing her divorce in November 2022 was the "second" best day of the actress's life. She left her ex-husband Vitale with $2.2 million. Although it was a lot, Bertinelli was happy she didn't have to deal with his "narcissism" anymore.

No More Disrespect

On that note, Bertinelli warned her social media followers that anyone who treated her disrespectfully would get blocked. Her message was clear: she would no longer tolerate disrespect.