Valerie Bertinelli shared with fans that she’s well on her way to healing from past traumas after putting on a pair of pants triggered memories of being “mercilessly mocked” by a former partner.

The actor and Food Network star opened up about her experience in a TikTok video.

“I’m giggling because I had a small hidden bruise that was activated today. You can probably hear them because my pants are rubbing together and it makes this particular sound,” she said.

While she was able to laugh about her choice of clothing now, she wasn’t always able.

“I stopped wearing them because I was…mercilessly mocked, you know, ‘I’m too lazy to do anything about it. They wouldn’t rub together if you…’” she trailed off.

She explained how “hidden bruises” are what “emotional, verbal, mental abuse do to you.”

“People can’t see [them] but we got to deal with [them] everyday when they’re activated,” she said. “I’m so grateful the work that I’m doing on healing, is working.”

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 23: Actress Valerie Bertinelli attends the 2014 Power of Pink at House of Blues Sunset Strip on October 23, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Bertinelli admitted she was hesitant to share such a post in fear that some may tell her to move on, but to those who had anything negative to say she had a message: “This is called moving on. This is called healing. And to all of you that can identify with this and feel seen, welcome. I’m just another part of your tribe.”