Valerie Bertinelli is upfront about her mental health and a “hidden bruise.” Bertinelli uploaded a video to Instagram on February 12, 2023, where she could be seen walking and conversing with the camera. In addition to Bertinelli’s speech, we can hear a swishing sound as she walks throughout the video.

I’m giggling because I had a small, hidden bruise activated today,” Bertinelli said. “My jeans are rubbing together, creating this particular sound, so you can probably hear them.” As she moved, her pants made a swishing noise.

Bertinelli claimed that she “stopped wearing” these particular pants due to being “mercilessly mocked” by an ex who used to remark that if she weren’t so lazy and lost weight, her pants wouldn’t make that noise.

Later, Bertinelli clarified what she meant when she said a “hidden bruise.” In her words, “Hidden bruises are something that emotional, verbal, and mental abuse does to you that people can’t see.”

“The work I’m doing on healing is working, so it’s now making me laugh,” she continued. “I put these jeans in storage for good. After working to cure her concealed bruise, she can “wear them, hear that sound, and to me, that sound represents freedom.”

Bertinelli noted at the end of her article that she was afraid to publish this video because she anticipated comments asking her to “let go of it” and “move on.” Even so, she uploaded it because “this is called moving on. We refer to this as healing. And welcome to everyone who can relate to this and feels heard. I am merely another member of your tribe.”