Selma Blair Has Revealed A Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

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On social media over the weekend, Selma Blair made a heartbreaking personal announcement: she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The actress discovered the news in August, as she admits in the post, although Blair believes the symptoms have been around for a few years, at least. While it has been a difficult time for the film and television actress, Blair is thankful for the support she receives from her family, friends, and co-workers on Another Life, Netflix's forthcoming sci-fi drama, which is currently filming. Here's what Blair wrote:

I have multiple sclerosis. 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, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prince, Jr., Tara Subkoff, Noah Newman. My producers #noreenhalpern who assured me that everyone has something. #chrisregina #aaronmartin and every crew member... thank you.

As Selma Blair confesses in the open and honest Instagram post, she is in "the thick of it" when it comes the debilitating disease. Still, the actress offered this personal news to hopefully inspire others who may also be struggling with this difficult journey, either themselves or through a loved one's illness.

Selma Blair says it can be "overwhelming," but she is thankful for all the people who help her, both personally and professionally, as she pushes forward every single day. She continued:

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.

Selma Blair recently learned about this MS diagnosis in the late summer, but the actress believes she has potentially had this disease for "15 years at least." Tragically, multiple sclerosis is incurable, and she has met with many challenges as she persists forward, with more to come.

But Selma Blair is thankful to both have the knowledge and the ability to share it.

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, Dr. Jason Berkley, 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.

There's no doubt that Selma Blair's heartwrenching revelation is a difficult one to learn, but we are thankful to know that the actress is continuing to move forward as best she can. She has a wide wealth of support from a variety of different people keeping her focused on the bright side.

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Will Ashton
Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.