Sarah Hyland says she’s still ‘triggered’ by past abusive relationship after ex Matt Prokop’s arrest for assault

Sarah Hyland admits she still gets “triggered” by a past abusive relationship.

The “Modern Family” star spoke with Variety about being a survivor of domestic violence and the PTSD she often suffers from as a result. The interview comes a few months after her ex Matt Prokop — whom she previously was granted a restraining order against — was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

“[The PTSD stays] in that abused place of your soul, where you think it’s your fault the whole time and you could have done better, you could have gotten out sooner, you could have told people,” she told the outlet.

Sarah Hyland discussed her PTSD from her abusive relationship with ex Matt Prokop. Sarah Hyland/instagram The “Geek Charming” co-stars, pictured here in 2011, dated for five years before splitting in 2014. Richie Buxo / Splash News

Hyland, 33, explained that she understands why so many survivors do “not wanna talk about it anymore” and want the whole experience to “be done.”

“I completely understand the dissociation pattern of it,” she continued. “I am very much guilty about it myself… until something happens where I’m triggered, and I didn’t realize that part of myself had been healed.”

Hyland admitted that she may never “be fully healed” from her abuse.

The “Modern Family” actress discussed her abuse while encouraging other survivors to share their stories. sarahyland/Instagram Hyland, pictured here on Thursday in Los Angeles, admitted that the abuse placed “scars” on her “soul.” WireImage

“It’s something that kind of scars her soul a little bit,” she shared. “It’s more so putting love towards that scar instead of hating it and ignoring it.”

The former “Love Island USA” host –– who has been married to “Bachelor” alum Wells Adams since 2022 –– has since spoken out about her abuse and encourages others to share their stories, as well.

“The community hasn’t shared enough, I believe. And I feel that if we talk about it more, more women — and men and just human beings in general in abusive relationships — will feel more comfortable to be able to talk about it with their loved ones,” she told Variety. “Instead of letting their abuser isolate them from everyone, which is the first thing that they do, so that you don’t have that community. So we have to keep talking about it.”

The actress, pictured here with Prokop in 2013, filed a restraining order against her ex in 2014. Splash News Hyland, pictured here with Prokop in 2011, claimed that Prokop choked her and threatened her life. WireImage

Hyland’s abusive relationship with Prokop was made public in September 2014 when she was granted a restraining order against him.

Hyland alleged that her “Geek Charming” co-star had verbally and physically abused her during their five-year relationship and accused him of choking her and threatening her and her dog’s life.

“His grip was so tight that I could not breathe or speak. I was scared and in fear for my life,” she recalled in the filing at the time.

Prokop, pictured here in 2008, was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in May. ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection Hyland has been married to Wells Adams since August 2022. Instagram/@sarahhyland

Nearly 10 years after he was ordered to stay away from Hyland, Prokop was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in May in Texas.

Prokop’s girlfriend allegedly called police and claimed that he allegedly pushed her and slammed her head into something.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.