Bethenny Frankel Frankly Admits PTSD After ‘Traumatic’ Divorce From Ex Jason Hoppy: ‘I Thought I’d Never Get Over It’

Bethenny Frankel has revealed she suffers from PTSD following her divorce from ex Jason Hoppy, describing the experience as ‘traumatizing’.

The RHONY alum, 53 — who recently showed off her toned figure in a stylish bikini — opened up about the divorce on Thursday’s episode of her Just B podcast.

The TV personality and Hoppy tied the knot in 2010 but split just two years later. After reaching a financial settlement in 2016, the divorce was finalized in 2021 — eight years after Bethenny originally filed.

‘I have been burned. I have massive trust issues and I have post-traumatic stress disorder,’ she expressed per Page six. ‘It was literally the most traumatizing thing I will hopefully ever go through in my life.’

The star added that the long-running divorce had been ‘more complicated’ than grief, while she also described it as ‘mental and emotional torture’.

‘I thought I would never survive it. I didn’t see a way out. It was suffocating. I thought I would be miserable for the rest of my life.’

Frankel also stated, “I’ve had every damn thing short of physical abuse done to me, and I’m an expert on the subject.”

Some of the incidents she allegedly experienced included ‘fraud’, ‘multiple custody trials’ and also ‘being followed’.

‘I have been through a fierce war – a war. I’ve questioned myself as a person, as a parent, because so many times I was told otherwise how horrible I was and disgusting and old and irrelevant and so abused because I didn’t have the power to get out of it.’

While Bethenny explained to her listeners that for years it had been ‘impossible to talk about’ the divorce, but she now felt ‘ready’ to do so.

“How someone so smart and so successful could make such poor judgment calls and decisions or just not know or just have a bad hand, but it’s been a journey so I’m ready to discuss that.”

During their relationship, Frankel and Hoppy welcomed daughter Bryn, 13 – who ‘knows all about’ the divorce.

Since the bitter split, the Skinny Girl founder has since moved on with Paul Bernon, whom she began dating in 2018. In March 2021, the couple announced their engagement.

However, Bethenny admitted that the divorce from Hoppy has still affected her relationship with Bernon. ‘That’s why I haven’t remarried, or I’m not sure I ever would.’

The reality star has previously briefly discussed her separation from Jason, previously calling the divorce a ‘nightmare’ on her Just B podcast back in December 2021 – the same month the divorce was officially finalised.

‘I have spent millions of dollars, millions of tears. I’ve had a horrible hall of fame, nightmare divorce,’ she admitted at the time.

The mother-of-one also stated: ‘I ended up marrying someone who was just a normal person who seemed like they could handle anything that happens to me and being on reality TV.’

‘And I was kind of proud of myself because I just married someone who had a simple life and they didn’t come from much and then they would never want anything from me.’

Frankel continued: ‘Because that’s just not the way it goes, people who don’t come from a lot are just happy with that kind of small-town life, and it would never really be a whole problem.’

During the final episode, she also talked about issues with a prenup, later adding: ‘What I’ve overcome and achieved in divorce is so much more than what I’ve achieved in philanthropy and in business.’

“Divorce has been my biggest struggle and ultimately my biggest cause of survival. And it was torture.’

‘I have been through an ordeal. I’ve been through hell. I’ve been to hell and back. I can’t express to you how bad my experience has been,’ Bethenny expressed.

The former couple went through a long custody battle over daughter Bryn, with Bethenny eventually gaining full legal custody and primary custody. In 2021, Frankel also no longer had to pay his previous child support.

While talking to People Now, per Todayin 2016 – the same year the couple reached a financial settlement – she opened up about the divorce proceedings, saying: ‘I feel justice is being served.’

“It will be handled as it should be. It’s been far too long. I never wanted it to last more than a few months.’

Bethenny added: ‘I feel like I survived something. When it all shakes out, I want to be a woman who hasn’t just felt backed into a corner.’

‘I stayed strong and I did what was best for myself, (for) my daughter (and) for women.’

And while he was currently engaged to Bernon, Frankel spoke up E! News last year about whether or not she will walk down the aisle again.

‘I don’t want to build a wedding. I love my life, I love my fiancé. He’s a great life partner and I don’t want to sign a contract with someone I love…’

‘And I don’t want to plan a massive wedding for everyone else and not what we want. I like to do what you want, not what society wants you to do.’