Married At First Sight bride Alyssa reveals truth behind TV breakdown

She was accused of brutally rejecting her TV ‘husband’, but MAFS bride Alyssa has revealed what really happened at the emotionally driven commitment ceremony.

Married At First Sight bride Alyssa Barmonde has slowly emerged as an unlikely ‘villain’ of this year’s season.

The 35-year-old single mother has hit rocky waters with her TV ‘husband’ Duncan James, accused of failing to communicate her concerns effectively while brutally shutting him out.

Their ongoing challenges came to a head at Sunday’s commitment ceremony, when Alyssa broke down in tears while the couple talked to the MAFS experts about their issues, which for Alyssa, revolve around Duncan being unable to relate to her struggles as a solo parent.

While Duncan said he was more than willing to try to understand, Alyssa became overwhelmed with emotion, before fleeing the room and rejecting Duncan’s attempts to comfort her.

Alyssa has revealed what really happened during the commitment ceremony.

The MAFS bride was called out for brutally rejecting her TV husband.

In a lengthy social media post, Alyssa has revealed her behaviour was down to suffering a “panic attack” in the moment, and that she’s suffered with anxiety for over 20 years.

“When a panic attack comes on suddenly – your only thought is your need for survival,” Alyssa wrote on Instagram.

“For me – I need to be alone so I can focus, get into fresh air, slow down and breathe.

“Having a panic attack on the couch is something that happened to me a few times. But this time I wasn’t strong enough to manage it head-on. I took time. Stepped away. Calmed myself down. And returned to a hard conversation.

She added: “I wish I felt better understood sometimes, or that I can explain how I feel a little better, but don’t we all?”

Alyssa said she has suffered from anxiety for more than 20 years.

On Monday night’s episode, Duncan, 36, appeared to have reached his own breaking point in the relationship.

After the controversial couple swap challenge, which saw Duncan move in with bride Evelyn Ellis for three days, the cyber security sales director returned home to Alyssa, eager to make her feel at ease after their rough patch.

But Duncan’s romantic gesture, which involved posing for a hilarious photo shoot with Alyssa’s beloved KitchenAid stand mixer, brutally backfired.

Carrying on from their previous disagreements, Alyssa said she felt Duncan would “never understand” the pressures she faces as a single mother.

Duncan asked her to help him try to understand. “I don’t think I can agree to that. Full stop,” she said.

Alyssa then left the couple’s apartment with her suitcase, arguing she needed time to herself.

Alyssa is matched with Duncan on MAFS.

A teary Duncan then gave a heartbreaking interview in a piece-to-camera.

“I feel like I am trying to be positive, trying to give reassurance, but it feels like there are a lot of sentences from Alyssa about why this won’t work,” he said.

“It was combative. She wants to now leave. I feel like I am shooting in the dark sometimes.

“I feel more rejected in this relationship than any relationship I’ve been in. I can’t believe I’m crying.”

The MAFS experts pointed out to Alyssa what a catch Duncan was at the commitment ceremony, with Mel Schilling saying he was the most “emotionally intelligent man in the room”.

But it didn’t appear to register with Alyssa, who revealed her card with ‘Stay’ written on it, before saying, “Can we get off the couch now?”

Married At First Sight continues tonight at 7.30pm on Nine.