Tearful Kaitlyn Bristowe Says She “Cracked” After Breakdown

Kaitlyn Bristowe isn’t pretending life is always rosy. 

A former contestant on The Bachelorette shared a heartfelt message on social media on February 8th, revealing that she had reached her breaking point.

Kaitlyn, 40, shared a photo of herself crying on Instagram, explaining she’d been going through a difficult time and being overly critical of herself.

Along with a candid photo showing her vulnerable side, the host of Off The Vine also shared some frustrating everyday problems that had been getting to her. She posted pictures of a flat tire, a visit to the doctor, and a broken candle to illustrate what she’d been dealing with.

While I try to stay positive and I think I’ve been coping well with everything, I need to be real: I’m really struggling right now. I’m feeling defeated, stuck, and I’m being too hard on myself. I recently had a major emotional breakdown, but I’m just sharing this – I’m not looking for pity. I know I’ll get through it.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE what happened! Just a few days ago, on February 6th, Kaitlyn – my absolute favorite, she’s Canadian, you know – posted the cutest, but also kinda heartbreaking, video. She was doing this funny little dance, and the caption was about how border control took ten days off her work visa! Can you imagine?! She basically has to leave the country now, but she was doing jazz hands while telling us, which is SO Kaitlyn. It was hilarious and sad all at once, I’m obsessed!

Kaitlyn is always honest with her fans, and recently she shared an update about her dating life. She spoke out in April after ending her four-year engagement with Jason Tartick in 2023.

Kaitlyn recently told People magazine that she’s been prioritizing her own well-being more than ever before. She explained that this focus has allowed wonderful people to come into her life, and she’s very content with where she is now.

Though she’s always been very open with her feelings, the former Dancing With the Stars winner shared that she’s also learning how to keep some things private while still being honest.

I’ve always been very open about my personal life, but I’m working on being more reserved. I want to be honest and genuine, but also thoughtful and take responsibility for my actions – I think that’s a key part of being vulnerable.

For more stars who have sounded off about their mental health, keep reading…

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for himself. He wants to avoid future health crises and is committed to seeking therapy, and even taking medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that, beyond wanting to help others, his children – Ice Davis and Iceland Davis – along with his wife, Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was struggling.

He explained that his wife was pregnant with their son, and he was worried about the impact of parenthood on his mental health. He feared a potential breakdown he might not recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, explaining that he experienced what he called “body dysmorphia” as a young actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they deeply disliked their body and wished they had a different one.

Okay, so he talked about gaining weight after his parents split, and honestly, it broke my heart. He said it was like… after being so down and alone, he felt pressured to become something, you know? Like, he realized in this industry, the ‘more attractive’ he was – and I put that in quotes because he’s always been beautiful to me – the more opportunities would come his way, and the more people would… see his worth. It was like he was thrown into this world where his appearance equaled his value, and he felt like he had to play the game, even if it hurt.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that facing those difficult feelings and challenges ultimately helped him grow and return to his work with a renewed perspective.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

I’ve always believed our relationship with food is deeply personal, and for me, it became… complicated. I recently shared on a podcast that, while others might label it an eating disorder, it simply was my life for a long time. Food became my coping mechanism, and I honestly did some things I’m not proud of, pushing things to extremes. It was a really tough period, and I’m now working towards a healthier balance.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards better health and fitness.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and starting yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the drug Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which she described as a genuine challenge. However, she’s working on improving her mental and physical health by focusing on nourishing her body with healthy foods.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She explained on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about these things, even with those closest to you. She admitted that she personally feels she should be able to handle it on her own, and admitting she needs to talk about it makes her feel vulnerable.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about protecting her mental wellbeing, like blocking negativity online, and she frequently offers support and guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that the most important thing is patience. She explained that she was patient with herself, didn’t rush any decisions, and allowed time to pass, believing that difficult feelings will eventually lessen.

As people adjusted to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.

Honestly, lately I’ve been feeling the struggle between staying safe from the virus and dealing with the emotional toll it’s all taken. It’s a weird time, and I’ve found myself needing a personal escape. For me, that’s actually my car! It sounds strange, but it’s become my little sanctuary, a place where I can just breathe and feel safe when everything else feels overwhelming. I’m not alone in needing that little bit of space, and it’s okay to find what works for you, even if it’s unconventional.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to get the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall shared that she experiences a mix of good and anxious days, which is why she wanted to get involved in this cause. Her goal is to help people feel less isolated and alone.

I’ve always admired Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, not just for his acting, but for how openly he discusses his struggles with depression. It’s so important, and honestly, really brave of him, to talk about mental health, especially as a man – it’s something a lot of us find hard to do.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to understand this, but learning to talk about your feelings is crucial. Men especially often feel pressured to keep their emotions bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone in this.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re part of a big community.”

The actress from Empire has publicly discussed her battles with depression and emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help. She shared with Variety that talking to a therapist is essential for her well-being and how she copes with these challenges.

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a treatment using MDMA and psilocybin therapy to cope with the effects of both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any stage fright for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation with the audience – almost like a change in air pressure – that felt deeply connected to the music. This made her realize how much she thrives on, and even needs, that strong emotional connection with her audience to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control, feeling like it had disconnected her from traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she admitted, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities by stepping outside those boundaries. She believed this newfound freedom allowed her to grow and discover more about herself.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, saying it’s the first step, and reminded people that they are incredibly valuable.

The singer of “What He Didn’t Do” has opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the Dumb Blonde podcast with Bunnie Xo in August 2025 that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start working through everything. It wasn’t something that started recently – I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speeches and on social media like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, that could involve things like medication, balancing negative thoughts with ten positives, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has publicly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler to talk about her experience each time. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to help those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While promoting her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “darkness” during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy within herself, and after a long journey, she finally can. Now, she’s able to be happy on her own.

As a huge Ariana Grande fan, I was so touched by her recent tweet! Someone jokingly asked who her therapist is, and she replied saying therapy has literally saved her life multiple times. It’s amazing how open she is about prioritizing her mental health, and it really encourages me – and I’m sure so many others – to seek help when we need it too.

Oh my god, she gets it, you guys! She was like, ‘Seriously, if you’re hurting, ask for help!’ It’s like she was speaking directly to me. And she said you don’t have to just live with the pain, that you can actually deal with the stuff that happened. She knows she’s got a long way to go, but even recognizing that things can get better? That’s huge! It gives me so much hope just hearing her say it.

The singer has publicly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction, mental health, and other personal challenges, often incorporating these experiences into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Remember, if you’re going through a tough time, life has its challenges, but it’s important to keep going.”

I’ve been so impressed with this actress – she doesn’t just play characters dealing with tough mental health struggles, like her incredibly moving role as Rue in Euphoria, but she’s also been open about facing those challenges herself. It makes her work feel so much more real and powerful, knowing she understands these issues on a personal level.

I remember when Zendaya first opened up about this – it was back in 2013 on her old app. She shared that she really struggled with anxiety after being on Ellen, and it all stemmed from a technical glitch with her microphone during the show. It was so relatable! Thankfully, she’s figured out ways to cope with those feelings over the years. She once said something that really stuck with me: sometimes you just need to take a break and distance yourself from things so they don’t overwhelm you. It’s great advice, and I admire her for being so open about her experiences.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of intense happiness followed by weeks-long struggles with depression.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her personal experiences as well.

She shared that she’d kept her struggles with mental health private for a long time, both when in the public eye and when not. Speaking at the Global Changemakers Award in 2018, she explained that she believes keeping things secret actually makes it harder to get better.

Read More

2026-02-09 21:20