Kendra Wilkson recently opened up to People in an exclusive interview about her mental health.
It began with a frightening episode that happened to Kendra in September 2023. She recalled that her chest felt tight, she became short of breath, and Kendra described being overcome by fear. She told People, “I was in a state of panic. I didn’t know what was going on in my head and my body or why I was crying.” At that moment, Kendra claimed that she hit rock bottom.
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TMZ reported that Kendra suffered a bad panic attack during the night of Tuesday, September 5th. She didn’t sleep at all that night. On Wednesday, September 6th, Kendra decided to check herself into the hospital. A TMZ source was on site when Kendra arrived at the emergency room. They claimed that Kendra was desperate for medical assistance, and Kendra was overheard pleading for someone to find her a doctor. Kendra’s rep confirmed to TMZ that Hank Baskett, her ex-husband, was by her side in the hospital while Kendra rested and received medical treatment.
Kendra provided more shocking details in her interview with People. The outlet reported that Kendra’s eyes filled with tears as she claimed that she was at risk of losing her life because of her depression. Kendra also said, “I was hitting the end of my life, and I went into psychosis. I felt like I wasn’t strong enough to live anymore.”
Kendra Didn’t Know How to Be Happy
Before the panic attack occurred, Kendra did provide some clues that her mental health had been suffering.
Kendra spoke on Melissa Gorga, who is best known as a star of Real Housewives of New Jersey. Melissa hosts a podcast, On Display with Melissa Gorga, and Kendra appeared on an episode in June 2023. Kendra confessed that she had begun to feel “so lost” after she got divorced from Hank.
She also discussed how she felt after her final reality TV show, Kendra Sells Hollywood, was not renewed. Kendra told Melissa, “It was impossible to be happy at that point. I didn’t even know how to be happy.” At that point, Kendra said she was left with no marriage, and no TV show, and she was forced to move into a much smaller house. Kendra told Melissa, “I didn’t understand what was going on, and all of a sudden, I had to do some intense healing.”
While Kendra said her two children gave her purpose, she no longer knew who she was. She had to face the demons of her past when she lived in the Playboy world as one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends. Kendra told People, “It’s not easy to look back at my 20s.” She also revealed, “Playboy really messed my whole life up.”
A week after her trip to the emergency room, Kendra had to return to the hospital and was prescribed an antipsychotic medication. She also began therapy sessions three times a week at UCLA. There, Kendra started tackling all the unresolved traumas in her life. To make the situation harder, Kendra had been struggling in her real estate career. She said she was giving up and couldn’t find the light because it felt like there was no hope.
Hank Took Kendra to the Hospital
Kendra also revealed she couldn’t trust people anymore after her messy divorce. At the time, she cut ties with her family and many close friends. When she hit rock bottom, Kendra told People that she was forced to reach out for help. She said, “There was a moment where I looked at my ex-husband, and I said, ‘Take me to the hospital.’” Kendra revealed that was a crucial moment, saying, “To accept help that day and for Hank to drive me to the hospital was a huge day in both of our lives.”
Now, Kendra claims she feels more at peace about her split from Hank. She said, “Our whole marriage was on camera, and I don’t think we ever really got a chance to know each other. She claims that reconciliation is not in their future, but she’s also grateful that Hank took her to the hospital and stayed with her because he cares.
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Kendra revealed they are co-parenting their son, Hank, and daughter, Alijah, really well. She said that she will always love Hank, and he’s the most amazing father she could ever have for her kids. Kendra explained, “That’s what divorce is about; we’re doing a really good job.”
Now, Kendra is refocusing on building her real estate career back up and being the best mom to her children. She is ready to find love again, and one day, she might even get remarried. Kendra claimed that a year ago, she was “body-shaming” herself, but she told People, “I’m living now.”
Kendra Is a Survivor
She believes she’s giving her kids and herself everything she’s got. She ended her exclusive conversation with People by saying, “I’m so proud of myself for battling this, and finding the solution, and getting the treatment I needed.”
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It’s one step at a time for Kendra, but she admitted, “I survived.”
