Britney Spears is reflecting on the "hardest years" of her life and admitting that her marriage to ex-husband Sam Asghari was a "fake distraction" from her inner turmoil.

The "Toxic" singer shared a lengthy, vulnerable note to her Instagram on Sunday (August 24) looking back at the time in her life when she was "cut off" from contacting her two sons Sean and Jayden, whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline. During that time of estrangement, she and Asghari tied the knot in June 2022, six years after meeting on the set of her "Slumber Party" music video, per Page Six. Asghari filed for divorce in August 2023, and the process was finalized the following year.

"We're just people so fragile and human the hardest years of my life were my two sons gone for those 3 years," she said. "I was cut off from calling or texting and I remember in shock my secret to survival was denial and a lot of tears its weird me and Sam were married but it almost felt like a fake distraction to help me deal with it."

The post, which was penned alongside a photo of her naked back, also touched on her "healing" journey and "owning" her own body again.

"well I know im healing bc im hungry again like a child or baby... im so hungry it hurts and when I eat its like its my first time ever eating in my life," she wrote. "I believe although I loved my home there is waaay too much abuse and trauma in there.... Today I thank jesus for food it feel like telling others NO... Owning my body... and letting them REALLY know where im from..."

She continued, "My soul has never experienced food like this a day in my life... so silly and embarrassing im going to eat cookies and cream ice cream now...god bless u all."

The princess of pop reunited with her youngest son Jayden, now 18, last year and has shared updates on their mending relationship. Earlier this year, she gave a rare glimpse at the pair bonding over a sweet musical moment.

Chris Davis