“Dancing with the Stars” Mirrorball champion and former “The Bachelorette” star Kaitlyn Bristowe is opening up about her mental health and sharing an emotional post with fans.
Kaitlyn Bristowe Shares Her Struggles
Bristowe competed on ABC’s dance competition and won Season 29 alongside professional partner Artem Chigvintsev. On Sunday, February 8, she shared her struggles with fans on Instagram. She posted several photos, some of them are humorous, like her lying ontop of a large suitcase or posing with a hair extension over her lip like a fake mustache, but others are raw and real. She shared photos of herself in tears and of glass smashed on the floor.
In the caption, Bristowe was honest with her fans, writing, “Humor helps, and I believe I have been handling a lot with grace, but.. I have to be honest. I’m feeling really down, challenged, stuck, and hard on myself. I just had the most epic breakdown. Not looking for sympathy, just sharing. I’ll come out of it.”
Bristowe chose to disable comments so fans could not react to her post, but her decision to be so open is a powerful way to raise awareness for mental health and may bring solace to fans who are fighting their own battles.
Kaitlyn Bristowe Opens up About Her Mental Health
This is also not the first time that Bristowe has spoken publicly about mental health. On February 18, 2025, she posted a photo on Instagram of herself holding a pink Care Bear that her stepdad had given her during a difficult time in her life. In the caption, she revealed the importance of this cuddly toy and how it had helped her.
“Seeing this care bear on my bed in Mexico, compelled me to share,” she said. “For those who don’t know. I went through a really hard time and hit rock bottom in my late twenties. I had no money, no job, no education, no home, no credit, I had lost myself and got dumped by someone I thought I’d marry. I relied on him emotionally and financially. I also had never processed the death of a best friend.”
Bristowe revealed that she moved in with her mother and stepfather, who helped her heal. She also discussed how the Care Bear now represents hope. “This bear is almost like my little anchor. Maybe if you’re going through a tough time, find yourself an anchor, and over the years you can reflect on your resilience,” she wrote. “It always gets better. I’m so glad I’m here. Please use the comment section to either ask questions, or share your story. I’m not looking for attention through this but rather connection. Love you.”
