Christina Applegate has shared a poignant update about her ongoing health battle after nearly five years of dealing with an autoimmune disorder.
The 53-year-old actress, known for her Golden Globe-nominated roles, has opened up about her health after announcing in 2021 that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
According to the Cleveland Clinic, MS is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system with no known cure. It impacts the brain and spinal cord.
Over the weekend, the Jesse star took to Instagram to share a video revealing that stress can trigger flare-ups of her condition.
In the video, Applegate is seen staring into the distance while making a rude gesture, seemingly expressing her frustration.
“For people who don’t understand MS,” she explained in the caption. “When we get stressed or upset our symptoms get worse. I had something happen to me on Friday and I have fallen like 5 times.
“Legs are busted. So if you know someone with a disease like this, maybe think…”
Applegate first announced her diagnosis in early 2021, which caused a delay in the production of Netflix’s Dead to Me as she began her treatment.
Last December, she shared that she experienced one of her initial MS symptoms while filming the pilot for the show, recalling a fall she had that day while in character as Jen.
“Hi, first sign of MS!” she recounted on the MeSsy podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who was also diagnosed with MS during her time on The Sopranos.
Producer of Dead to Me, Liz Feldman, added: “I remember you losing your balance a couple of times but it was very hard to figure out.
“I remember one time it was like really late at night, we’d been shooting probably 14 or 15 hours, it seemed completely reasonable that anybody would be collapsing.”
The 48-year-old writer continued: “There’s no handbook for this. I could just sense that A, she was scared and B, that something was wrong, something in her body was not working the way that she wanted it to.
“I told her so many times that it’s just a TV show; we’re making a TV show and it’s so silly, you know, at the end of the day!
“I knew Christina well enough to know that something major had to be going on because she’s an extreme professional.”
Following her diagnosis, Applegate also expressed on the podcast that her mental health suffered significantly, leading to a period of severe depression that felt overwhelming.
“I don’t mean that but I’m trapped in this darkness right now that I haven’t felt in probably 20-something years,” she continued. “I don’t enjoy living. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy things anymore.”
Supporters have been reaching out in the comments on her social media, offering ‘positive thoughts’ and numerous well-wishes.