Valerie Bertinelli announces social media break amid mental exhaustion, urges fans not to 'worry'
Valerie Bertinelli introduced her new boyfriend, Mike Goodnough, in April 2024
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Valerie Bertinelli is stepping away from the spotlight, at least for now.
On Friday, the actress and former Food Network star announced her plans to take a social media break due to mental and emotional exhaustion and urged her followers not to "worry."
"The last six or so weeks have been…a LOT," she wrote on Instagram alongside a selfie. "And while I am incredibly grateful for all your support for my book and everyone I’ve had the good fortune to meet, this here introvert in extrovert’s clothing is in need of a mental health break."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VALERIE BERTINELLI MOVES ON WITH NEW BOYFRIEND AFTER DRAMATIC DIVORCE FROM EX-HUSBAND TOM VITALE
"I know, I know, this isn’t an airport, I don’t need to announce my departure. I just know how some of you worry about me if I don’t post often enough," she continued. "But, I’m good. Honest. Taking a little social media cleanse/detox and a mental health break is a good thing and I’m grateful I’m at a place in my life where I’m aware enough to know when I’m overwhelmed and mentally/emotionally exhausted."
"Y’all take care of yourselves," she concluded. "I’ll be back before you know it."
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The break comes nearly a month after Bertinelli introduced her new boyfriend, Mike Goodnough on social media.
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Bertinelli and Goodnough are in a long-distance relationship, with Goodnough living on the east coast as a writer, and Bertinelli residing in Los Angeles on the west coast.
Valerie Bertinelli introduced her new boyfriend, Mike Goodnough, in April. (Dominik Bindl/Getty Images/Hoarse Whisperer/Instagram)
The "Hot In Cleveland" actress first revealed she was in a new relationship in March. However, she kept his name private. The two went public with their relationship on social media on April 20, with Bertinelli posting a photo of them together, with the caption, "I’ll drink what you think and I’m high from smokin’ your jokes all damn night."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It’s unlike any relationship that I’ve ever experienced with a man," she told USA Today in March, before explaining that she "wasn't expecting" to be in a relationship again after her divorce from Tom Vitale.
Prior to her marriage to Vitale, the "One Day at a Time" actress was married to musician Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007.
Valerie Bertinelli announced social media break due to mental and emotional exhaustion. (ABC/Heidi Gutman)
Afterward, her journey to find true love took time.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I want to be clear that this process has taken a long time," she told People magazine last month. "I got more intentional about my healing. That meant a lot of walks with [my dog] Luna, a lot of therapy sessions, a lot of learning that I deserve to feel good."
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"First came the work," she continued. "Why I thought I didn't deserve to be loved. Why I was using food to numb my feelings. All the drama and trauma I hadn’t dealt with — with Ed and my last marriage."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News Digital's Lori Bashian contributed to this post.