Selma Blair shares her childhood experience of living with undiagnosed multiple sclerosis

Selma Blair, the actress known for her roles in films such as “Cruel Intentions,” has opened up about her experience growing up before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). In an interview with British Vogue, the 50-year-old actress explained that she had been unknowingly experiencing symptoms of MS from a young age, but was often dismissed by doctors as an attention-seeker. “If you’re a boy with those symptoms, you get an MRI. If you’re a girl, you’re called ‘crazy,'” she said.

Blair stated that she was only diagnosed with the autoimmune disease in 2018, at the age of 46, and has been in remission since 2021. She added that as a child, she would often wake up in the middle of the night laughing hysterically, which later turned into uncontrollable crying as an adult. “I just thought I was a hugely emotional person,” she recalled. “I looked like a ‘normal’ girl to them, but I was disabled this whole time.”

Despite her diagnosis, Blair said that she chose to hide her MS from the public so that she could continue working. “I was worried since the beginning of time that a glaring fault would remove me from the workforce,” Blair said. “

And usually it was my incoordination or getting stuck, too weak or sick, in my trailer – or any time, really. The vomiting or body issues were terrifying, [and the] baldness or rashes.” However, now that she has shared her story, she is motivated by others with disabilities to embrace her journey and help others do the same.

Blair went on to explain that living with MS can be overwhelming, as the symptoms can be unpredictable and intense. “I can be sat on the couch and then I wake up. I’ve passed out and have no idea where I am,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Blair remains optimistic and grateful for the support she has received from the Disabled community. “I couldn’t have made a move — sometimes literally — without my allies in the Disabled community,” she says. “They blow my mind.”

Blair’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by people with invisible illnesses and disabilities, particularly women who are often dismissed or not taken seriously by medical professionals. By sharing her journey with MS, Blair is inspiring others to speak out and embrace their own experiences.

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