ACTRESS Christina Applegate has shared her true feelings about dealing with multiple sclerosis.
In August 2021, the Dead To Me star revealed she was diagnosed with the scary nerve damage disease.
Christina, 52, first tweeted about her diagnosis, “It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition.
It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it.”
She ended her statement by asking for privacy.
Since then, she has been providing fans with updates on her journey with her health struggles.
‘IT FEELS REALLY FATALISTIC’
This week during the Hollywood actress’ podcast she shares with her friend Jamie-Lynn Sigler, she made the new revelation about her MS.
Jamie also was diagnosed with MS more than 20 years ago.
The episode was also recorded several months ago just days after Christina made a special appearance at the 2024 Emmy Awards in January.
“I’m in a depression right now, which I don’t think I’ve felt that for years,” she began.
“Like a real, f**k it all depression where it’s kind of scaring me to a little bit because it feels really fatalistic.”
After her Emmy’s appearance, she admitted that it was “the hardest day of my life” and she slept for “two days” after it.
Christina Applegate fights back tears and jokes ‘you’re totally shaming me’ with Emmys standing ovation over MS battle
“This is being really honest…I don’t enjoy living. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy things anymore,” she said.
CHRISTINA’S PAIN
In March, Christina sat down for an interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts to talk about how she’s doing.
“I might get to a place where I will function a little bit better,” she said.
The Friends star continued, “Right now, I’m isolating and that’s kind of how I’m dealing with it is by not going anywhere.”
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Exactly what causes MS is unknown, but it is suggested that the condition occurs from a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.
MS is an autoimmune condition. This means that the body’s immune system (designed to fight any infection or foreign body in your system) mistakes an area of the body for a threat and attacks it.
In the case of MS, the most common areas for the immune system to fight are the myelin sheaths (layers that cover and protect your nerves while also helping them transmit signals around the body) in the brain and/or spinal cord.
This can slow down the nerve signals, jumble them up or stop them completely, leading to a loss of control over certain functions in the body.
There are three main types of MS that a person can develop:
- Relapsing-remitting MS – where people have distinct attacks of symptoms that come and go. Around 85 percent of people have this type
- Primary progressive MS – this type affects about 10-15 percent of those diagnosed (generally those diagnosed in their 50s) and it means that the condition continues to get progressively worse
- Secondary progressive MS – neurologists generally agree that this is a “sustained build-up of disability, independent of any relapses” according to MS Society
There is also a condition called Benign MS, but this is only diagnosed if a person thought to have MS has gone 15 years with no symptoms, and has little or no disability as a result of previous attacks.
Symptoms of MS can include:
- Fatigue
- Vision problems
- Numbness and tingling
- Muscle spasms, stiffness, and weakness
- Mobility problems
- Pain
- Problems with thinking, learning, and planning
- Depression and Anxiety
- Sexual problems
- Bladder problems
- Bowel problems
- Speech and swallowing difficulties
“Because I don’t want to do it. It’s hard.”
In the comment section of the video shared on YouTube.
“I so appreciate Christina’s brutal honesty,” one said.
A second wrote, “Christina is incredible.”
“As usual, Christina has a refreshing humor and realness- even in such a difficult time,” a third stated.
Many others shared their experiences with chronic illnesses.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
