Selma Blair, the acclaimed actress known for roles in films like Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde, has openly shared her complex feelings surrounding her initial diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The 52-year-old star, who was first diagnosed with MS diagnosis in 2018, recently reflected on feeling unexpectedly “thrilled” upon receiving the news, a sentiment she expressed while speaking at the PHM Healthfront 2025 event on Wednesday, as reported by People.
Her reaction highlights the profound impact a diagnosis can have after years of struggling with unexplained health issues.
The Relief of a Diagnosis
For many living with undiagnosed chronic illness, the experience can be isolating and psychologically taxing. Experiencing debilitating symptoms that lack a clear medical explanation can lead to self-doubt, feelings of being dismissed by others, or the fear that the issues are psychosomatic. Blair spoke candidly about feeling this burden before her diagnosis.
“I was feeling tragic inside before,” she told People, “and thinking this is just all psychosomatic and how can I change myself?” She questioned how others seemed to navigate daily life with ease, performing seemingly simple tasks like a mother carrying her baby. The diagnosis, therefore, provided a crucial explanation for her struggles, lifting the weight of self-blame and uncertainty.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is defined by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as “an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.” It is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective sheath (myelin) covering nerve fibers, causing communication problems between the brain and 1 the rest of the body. Symptoms are highly varied and unpredictable, depending on which nerves are affected.
Common symptoms can include numbness or weakness in limbs, tingling sensations, fatigue, vision problems (like blurred or double vision), memory problems, difficulties with balance and coordination, and dizziness. The unpredictable nature of symptoms, which can fluctuate in severity and duration, is a hallmark of MS.
Feeling ‘Seen’ and Validated by MS Diagnosis
Receiving her MS diagnosis brought Blair a powerful sense of being “seen” and validated. After years of internal struggle and questioning her own reality, the diagnosis provided concrete evidence – what she jokingly referred to as “receipts” – confirming that her experiences were real and had a physical basis.
“I kind of joke like, wait, there’s receipts. This validates this vision here, this validates this or this or this,” she said. This validation is particularly significant with conditions like relapsing MS, where symptoms can appear, worsen (a relapse), and then partially or completely disappear during periods of remission.
An MS relapse, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, is defined as the occurrence of new MS symptoms or the worsening of old ones for at least 24 hours, provided it has been 30 days since the last relapse. This waxing and waning nature can make symptoms invisible to others, leading to disbelief or misunderstanding from those around the affected individual.
Challenges in Getting Diagnosed
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can often be a lengthy and challenging process. Early symptoms are frequently vague, non-specific, or temporary, mimicking those of various other conditions. It typically requires a neurological examination, medical history review, and often an MRI scan to look for characteristic lesions in the brain and spinal cord. Due to the complexity and variability, it can sometimes take years to receive an accurate diagnosis.
Blair’s own experience illustrates these challenges, dating back to her childhood. She has spoken about facing significant physical difficulties starting at age seven, including reportedly losing the use of her right eye, her left leg, and issues with her bladder. While she didn’t understand it at the time, these were symptoms of juvenile MS.
Sadly, her health concerns as a child were reportedly not taken seriously by her doctor at the time, leaving her condition undiagnosed for decades. Reflecting on potential medical bias, she shared a poignant observation in an April 2023 interview with British Vogue: “If you’re a boy with those symptoms, you get an MRI. If you’re a girl, you’re called ‘crazy.’” This highlights a historical issue where women’s symptoms have sometimes been dismissed or attributed to psychological factors, delaying critical diagnoses.
Past Advice on Keeping Diagnosis Private
Upon receiving her MS diagnosis in 2018, Blair reportedly received advice from her doctor that reflected a past reluctance or fear regarding disclosing such a diagnosis in the workplace and public life. In the same British Vogue interview, she mentioned the advice was to “keep it to myself” and that her workplace “wouldn’t have to know,” indicating that at the time, many people did not feel safe or comfortable openly sharing a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
This counsel underscores a period when the stigma surrounding chronic and neurological conditions was perhaps more pronounced, leading individuals to conceal their health status for fear of professional or social repercussions.
Selma Blair’s Advocacy Journey
Contrasting sharply with the advice she initially received, Selma Blair has become a prominent and courageous advocate for MS awareness since going public with her diagnosis in October 2018. Through social media, interviews, and her deeply personal documentary, Introducing Selma Blair, she has shared the realities of living with MS with remarkable honesty and vulnerability.
Her willingness to openly discuss her symptoms, challenges, and triumphs has resonated with countless individuals affected by MS and other chronic illnesses. Her advocacy work has helped to demystify the condition, reduce stigma, and encourage others to seek diagnosis and support. Her public journey serves as a powerful example of self-acceptance and empowerment in the face of chronic illness.
Living with MS: Management Approaches
While there is currently no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, significant advancements have been made in managing the condition and improving quality of life. Treatment plans are highly individualized but often include disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that can help reduce the frequency and severity of relapses and slow disease progression.
Symptom management is also a key component, addressing issues like fatigue, spasticity, pain, and cognitive changes through medication and other interventions. Rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, play a crucial role in maintaining function, mobility, and independence. Lifestyle factors like regular exercise, a healthy diet, stress management, and sufficient sleep are also important supportive measures for individuals living with MS.
From Struggle to Empowerment
Selma Blair’s journey with Multiple Sclerosis, marked initially by years of unexplained symptoms and internal struggle, found a turning point with her formal MS diagnosis. Far from being tragic, the diagnosis provided validation, relief, and the opportunity to understand her body and experiences through a clear medical lens.
Her story highlights the critical importance of listening to patients, recognizing the varied and often subtle ways chronic illnesses can manifest, and addressing historical biases in diagnosis. By openly sharing her experiences, from the challenges of undiagnosed symptoms, including those dating back to childhood, to navigating life with MS and its unpredictable relapses, Blair has transformed her personal health journey into a powerful platform for advocacy.
Her courage has helped to increase awareness, reduce the stigma associated with Multiple Sclerosis, and inspire countless others living with chronic conditions to seek understanding, validation, and support, ultimately moving from a place of confusion to one of empowerment.
