Bethenny Frankel recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of her tumultuous divorce from ex-husband Jason Hoppy and their prolonged custody battle over their daughter Bryn. The former 'Real Housewives of New York City' star described her 10-year divorce as more torturous than grieving the death of a loved one, stating that it was the most traumatizing experience she has ever endured.
Frankel expressed that she felt suffocated and powerless during the divorce proceedings, referring to it as mental and emotional torture. She disclosed that she faced various challenges over the years, including fraud, forgery, multiple custody trials, being followed, and alleged hacking incidents. Despite not experiencing physical abuse, she emphasized that she had been through a war and had questioned herself as a human and a parent.
The 53-year-old entrepreneur shared her struggles on her podcast, indicating that she is finally ready to discuss a topic that has been difficult for her to address for years. Frankel plans to delve into the details of her divorce in a series of podcast episodes, reflecting on her decision-making and the impact it had on her life.
Frankel also mentioned that her traumatic divorce has influenced her current relationship with her fiancé Paul Bernon, with whom she has been engaged since 2018. She expressed uncertainty about getting married again due to the lingering effects of her past experiences.
Although Frankel did not specify the release date of the upcoming podcast episodes, she hinted at addressing the topic over a series of 10 episodes, symbolizing each year of the divorce proceedings. She married Hoppy in March 2010, announced their separation in December 2012, and finalized their divorce in January 2021 after a decade-long legal battle.
By December 2021, Frankel had secured full legal custody and primary residential custody of Bryn, marking a significant milestone in their custody dispute. While Frankel has previously described her divorce as a 'nightmare,' she has refrained from divulging specific details about the reasons behind the split or the contentious divorce proceedings.
