Christina Applegate, the celebrated actress known for her roles in “Bad Moms” and “Married…With Children,” bravely continues to share the stark realities of her life with multiple sclerosis (MS). Diagnosed in 2021, the 52-year-old star has openly discussed the profound challenges she faces due to this debilitating condition.
MS, a severe neurological disease, impacts the central nervous system, comprising the brain and spinal cord. It manifests in various troubling symptoms, including problems with vision, coordination, muscle stiffness, numbness, and cognitive issues, strongly influencing daily activities and overall quality of life. Notably, MS is more prevalent in women, with a diagnosis commonly occurring between the ages of 20 and 40.
Applegate first shared her diagnosis on the social media platform X, expressing the emotional and physical toll it has taken on her. “It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition,” she remarked at the time. Despite the support, she acknowledged the relentless nature of her struggle, stating, “It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it.”
Since her announcement, Applegate has not shied away from detailing her everyday battles with MS. Recently, on her podcast “MeSsy,” she revealed the severe impact of her condition on her mental health. “This is being really honest. I don’t enjoy living. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy things anymore,” Applegate confessed. She shared how even simple activities like getting coffee have become joyless tasks.
Applegate elaborated on her mental state, “What makes it harder is when you compare it to how it used to be. I’m in a depression right now, which I don’t think I’ve felt that for, like, years. Like a real f**k-it-all depression, like real depression, where it’s kind of scaring me too a little bit, because it feels really fatalistic… I’m trapped in this darkness right now that I haven’t felt like that in, I don’t even know how long, probably 20-something years.”
Her journey from subtle early symptoms to more severe physical limitations highlights the unpredictable and aggressive nature of MS. Appearing on “Good Morning America,” Applegate revealed the initial signs that led to her diagnosis, “My symptoms had started in the early part of 2021, and it was, like, literally just tingling on my toes. And by the time we started shooting in the summer of that same year, I was being brought to set in a wheelchair. Like, I couldn’t walk that far.”
Christina Applegate’s candidness about her MS challenges not only sheds light on her personal struggles but also serves as a beacon for others navigating similar paths, offering them solidarity and understanding in their journeys.