Selma Blair revealed that she has Multiple Sclerosis in an emotional Instagram post over the weekend.
In the caption to a mirror selfie, Blair wrote:
“I was in this wardrobe fitting two days ago. And I am in the deepest gratitude. So profound, it is, I have decided to share. The brilliant costumer #Allisaswanson not only designs the pieces #harperglass will wear on this new #Netflix show , but she carefully gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my coats and offers her shoulder to steady myself.
I have #multiplesclerosis . I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and will power and the understanding producers at Netflix , I have a job. A wonderful job. I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps. But we are doing it . And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best.
Since my diagnosis at ten thirty pm on The night of August 16, I have had love and support from my friends , especially @jaime_king @sarahmgellar@realfreddieprinze @tarasubkoff@noah.d.newman . My producers #noreenhalpern who assured me that everyone has something. #chrisregina#aaronmartin and every crew member… thank you. I am in the thick of it but I hope to give some hope to others. And even to myself. You can’t get help unless you ask.
It can be overwhelming in the beginning. You want to sleep. You always want to sleep. So I don’t have answers. You see, I want to sleep. But I am a forthcoming person and I want my life to be full somehow. I want to play with my son again. I want to walk down the street and ride my horse.
I have MS and I am ok. But if you see me , dropping crap all over the street, feel free to help me pick it up. It takes a whole day for me alone. Thank you and may we all know good days amongst the challenges. And the biggest thanks to @elizberkley who forced me to see her brother #drjasonberkley who gave me this diagnosis after finding lesions on that mri. I have had symptoms for years but was never taken seriously until I fell down in front of him trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve. I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least. And I am relieved to at least know. And share. ? my instagram family… you know who you are.”
It’s an incredibly candid post; frankly, this level of honesty is rare in celebrity-Instagram-land. But it’s incredibly important that Blair has shared this with the world, and has been so open in doing so.
Multiple Sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system that affects nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It affects over 25,000 Australians (and about 2 million people worldwide), and roughly three times as many women have it as men. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40; Blair is 46, but wrote in her Instagram post, “I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least”.
You might remember doing the MS Readathon when you were a kid; as an avid reader, I always loved participating. But I don’t remember being told what MS was, or why raising awareness and money towards research to understand it were important.
They’re important for the same reason Blair’s post is important – they improve awareness so that people are familiar with the signs and symptoms and can keep an eye out for them in themselves or loved ones, and so that people generally have a better understanding of the condition and all that it entails.
Blair’s post prompted an outpouring of support, as well as people, primarily women, sharing their own experiences with MS in the comments.
Jennaville22 wrote:
“The broken gps thing, same. But for me, it’s my right side. I became legally disabled at 34yrs old. That was a struggle as well. Having an “invisible” disease, it can be pretty crappy trying to convince ss that you are disabled. These injection bruises, they can be embarrassing. Especially when ppl point them out. It’s not malicious, i know. Ppl are curious but my cousin, a breast cancer survivor, likes to remind me… they’re battle scars…ps i’m winning. You are brave, you are strong and you are NOT ALONE!”
And Anadexx wrote:
“Thank you for sharing your story. I was diagnosed two days ago and it’s all very surreal, but this makes me more hopeful. Thank you for sharing your story with the world. ❤️”
Blair is currently filming sci-fi series Another Life for Netflix alongside Samuel Anderson (Doctor Who) and Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf).