Sharna Burgess on why she wanted to share her ‘dark thoughts’ after giving birth

The “Dancing with the Stars” pro talked about her struggle with these thoughts and some of the tools she learned to help cope with them. Now, she explains why she wanted to share the ordeal publicly.

She said she “felt called to share” her personal story because as she was passing it along, she wondered, “Is it just me? Is it just me who has these [thoughts]? Is there something wrong with my brain? Am I heading for postpartum depression?”

At one point it got so bad that Burgess recalled starting to have intrusive thoughts that Green would not come home or that his mother would not come home after she left. A panic attack triggered by these thoughts was the breaking point that told her, “I absolutely need to see someone about this because it’s escalating.”

Now she and Green have partnered with Movember’s Mental Health Campaign, which is what helped her understand how normal these intrusive thoughts can be and reassured her that she’s definitely not alone with them.

“I realized that all moms go through this to some degree and then I also read that 94 percent of people, men and women, have intrusive thoughts,” she said. Eastern Time.

“It’s a real term, intrusive thoughts, and whether you don’t deserve that job or ending with more dramatic, more violent versions of those thoughts, everyone needs to understand that they’re not alone,” he continued. “That these things are not singular. It’s not just you in your own world of horrible thoughts. These are people experiencing the same thing.”

Following the suicide of Stephen “TWitch” BossBurgess and Green took to their Instagram to continue their mission of spreading awareness about the importance of mental health and wellness.

“Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help, especially for men who have been taught that talking about your feelings is a sign of weakness, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” Burgess wrote in the caption to her photo. video.

“We want you to know that you are loved, you are seen, and it will get better. You can find the light again, I promise you,” he continued. “You are not alone, there are many people feeling what you feel and there are many ready to help you find your way.”

He shared the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988 in the US. movember.com/mentalhealth for helpful resources to help have those important conversations, or how to spot more subtle signs of distress.

In her initial post about her own dark thoughts, Burgess shared some of the tools she learned to help her navigate her own mental health when unwanted and intrusive thoughts invade.

“1. Deep cleansing breaths taking in as much air as you can and hold while saying ‘I release all thoughts that do not serve me,’ then control that exhalation by imagining those words and the feeling they bring leaving you. Repeat repeat,” she wrote. “2. When I need a quicker solution, I physically wave my hand in front of my eyes and say ‘no’ and imagine the image being destroyed and gone. I shake myself off and call up a memory that I can’t wait to do with Zane. All the news that it has”.

“These are just 2 and they help me so much so I hope they help you too. I have more if you want me to share xx,” Burgess added. “You’re doing great mom, remember that 🤍”.

Burgess and Green began dating in October 2020. The two announced that they were expecting their first child together in February 2022, and Burgess gave birth to Zane in July.

Green shares three children with his ex-wife Megan fox — Noah, 9, Bodhi, 8, and Journey, 5, — as well as eldest son Kassius with his ex Vanessa Marcil.