«Breaking News» Selma Blair says she self-medicated and drank to deal with undiagnosed MS pain

Selma Blair has revealed that her shock multiple sclerosis diagnosis actually came, in part, as a relief because it finally provided her with an answer to questions about her health that she had been asking for years. 

The 46-year-old actress, who opened up about her ongoing battle with the chronic disease in a new interview with GMA anchor Robin Roberts, recalled the moment that she was told she had MS, after spending years living 'in pain' with an undiagnosed condition that doctors simply passed off as the result of her being an 'exhausted single mother. 

'I cried, I had tears,' she said of her reaction to the diagnosis. 'They weren't tears of panic. They were tears of knowing I now had to give in to a body that had loss of control. 

'And there was some relief in that. Cause ever since my son was born, I was in an MS flare-up and didn't know, and I was giving it everything to seem normal.'  

Pain: Actress Selma Blair has spoken out her multiple sclerosis in a candid new interview, revealing that she felt some 'relief' after being diagnosed with the chronic disease

Ignored: The 46-year-old said she spent years being ignored by doctors, who would tell her that her symptoms were just the result of her being an 'exhausted single mother'

That struggle to seem normal, Selma admitted, involved self-medicating whenever she was not around her son Arthur, now seven, as well as drinking heavily in order to cope with the pain and exhaustion that she was struggling to combat. 

'I was self-medicating when [Arthur] wasn't with me,' she said. 'I was drinking, I was in pain.

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body and causes nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord.

It is an incurable, lifelong condition. Symptoms can be mild in some, and in others more extreme causing severe disability.

MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide - including around 400,000 in the US, and 100,000 in the UK.

It is more than twice as common in women as it is in men. A person is usually diagnosed in their 20s and 30s.

The condition is more commonly diagnosed in people of European ancestry. 

The cause isn't clear. There may be genes associated with it, but it is not directly hereditary. Smoking and low vitamin D levels are also linked to MS. 

Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and problems with thinking, learning and planning.

The majority of sufferers will have episodes of symptoms which go away and come back, while some have ones which get gradually worse over time.

Symptoms can be managed with medication and therapy.

The condition shortens the average life expectancy by around five to 10 years.

'I wasn't always drinking, but there were times when I couldn't take it. And I was really struggling with how am I going to get by in life.' 

Selma's years-long struggle to deal with the symptoms of what was then an undiagnosed chronic illness came after she tried to seek help from multiple doctors, who refused to 'take her seriously'.  

The actress, who first revealed in October that she had been diagnosed with MS, explained that some of the medical experts she saw simply passed off her symptoms as being the result of her being 'exhausted' and a 'single mother', with others even blaming her 'hormones' for her physical struggles.

It reached a point when Selma was so tired, she was unable to stay awake in between dropping her son, whose father is her ex Jason Bleick, off at school and going to work. 

'I got to the point where I said, "I need to go to work and I have to stay awake." I would drop my son off at school a mile away, and before I got home I would have to pull over and take a nap,' she revealed. 

'And I was ashamed, and I was doing the best I could. And I was a great mother, but it was killing me.' 

She was, however, able to find a source of support and advice in the form of fellow actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's - a neurodegenerative disorder - in 1991. 

Selma explained that she reached out to Michael - whom she had never met before - via email before being diagnosed with MS, because she thought it was possible that she had Parkinson's. 

'I said, "I don't know who to tell but I'm dropping things... I'm doing strange things,"' Selma wrote to the actor, who is now 57. 

'He got in touch with me, and we began a conversation. So he really helped me. Plus I have Michael J. Fox's email now, like I'm pretty cool, I'm cooler than I thought! 

Opening up: Selma revealed in October that she had been diagnosed with MS a few months before, after living with symptoms for years

'But really he gives me hope.'    

Selma's GMA interview, which aired on Tuesday, comes just hours after she penned an emotional message about her first red carpet appearance since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) - a milestone moment that saw her breaking down in tears while posing for photos at Vanity Fair's Oscars party on Sunday evening. 

The actress took to Instagram the day after the star-studded event to share a photo of her manager Troy Nankin holding her hand as she walked the red carpet with the help of a cane. 

'There are moments that define us. This is one of those indelibly watermarked in my heart. This is #troynankin; my former publicist turned manager, best friend, and fake husband. We joke,' she began her post.  

Support: Selma Blair, 46, shared a photo of her manager Troy Nankin holding her hand as she walked the red carpet with the help of a cane at the Vanity Fair Oscars party on Sunday 

Emotional: The actress broke down in tears at the event, which marked her first red carpet appearance since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Memorable moment: In her post, Selma said she 'sobbed' and 'appreciated every single second' at the event 

'I have become a different woman in the last few years, through struggles and the intense pride of motherhood. @vanityfair has always been a champion of mine, like Troy. And yet, I have not fully realized my capabilities as an actress.'

Selma said she wanted to make an appearance at the red carpet event to remember the first time she attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2000 with her 'not yet famous friend' Jake Gyllenhaal.  

'I believed in him and his career and wanted him there,' she explained. 'And this dinner always symbolizes so much. And I kept going because it was always a night in Hollywood that was full of Hollywood dreams with all the talent present in their glory. I loved to watch.' 

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story star, who appears in the March issue of Vanity Fair, explained she was invited to the magazine's annual Oscars party this year but was concerned about attending because she has been experiencing a flare-up of MS symptoms.  

Selma Blair's Instagram post in full 

There are moments that define us. This is one of those indelibly watermarked in my heart. This is Troy Nankin; my former publicist turned manager, best friend , and fake husband. We joke. I have become a different woman in the last few years, through struggles and the intense pride of motherhood.

Vanity Fair has always been a champion of mine, like Troy. And yet, I have not fully realized my capabilities as an actress. I wanted to be at this red carpet to remember my first time attending with a not yet famous friend, Jake Gyllenhaal. 

I believed in him and his career and wanted him there. And I kept going because it was always a night in Hollywood that was full of Hollywood dreams with all the talent present in their glory. I loved to watch. I was invited this year. I am featured in March issue . Thank you @radhikajones @kristasmith @samiranasr #juliemiller @cassblackbird. 

So this was a streak of light. To say I am here. I am still in an exacerbation so there was some nervousness. I don’t do anything the way I was once able. I will though. I can regain much. Mommas gotta work. And I will be able to do so much more on my own, But this man. Until that comes ...This man and a host of others light the way and hold the moon. 

@thetexastroya was a hero. Wanting me to shine brightly in a time that can be so challenging. He knew I wanted to be able to stand proudly as the woman I have become and hope to be. To be a part of something so special when my body won’t move clearly yet. And then I felt the love from the photographers who have watched me goof around on red carpets since I was in my twenties. 

I felt the warmth of the bulbs. The strength of my gown. His attentive touch. And still I hoped my brain could send signals for the remainder of my time there. And I sobbed. And I appreciated every single second. Every surprising tear, he was there. As he has always been. And that is the reason I could. Thank you Troy. We got me just where I wanted to be. For a night. And I later pushed my way into a family photo with Diana Ross (omg) . So much to post but not before this one. True love. Right here. Forever.

'So this was a streak of light. To say I am here. I am still in an exacerbation so there was some nervousness,' she wrote. 'I don’t do anything the way I was once able. I will though. I can regain much. Momma's gotta work. And I will be able to do so much more on my own.

'But this man,' she said of Troy. 'Until that comes ... This man and a host of others light the way and hold the moon. 

'@thetexastroya was a hero. Wanting me to shine brightly in a time that can be so challenging. He knew I wanted to be able to stand proudly as the woman I have become and hope to be.'

Selma looked stunning in a multi-colored dress by Ralph and Russo and a thick choker featuring an attached floor-length cape. 

She completed her ensemble with a large ring on her left finger and a black cane that she has been walking with since her MS diagnosis. 

At one point, she was overcome by emotion and broke down in tears, saying, 'It took so much to come out here,' as the crowd cheered her on.

After wiping the tears away, she continued to walk the red carpet with the help of a cane before entering the party. 

The actress opened up about the emotional moment, writing: 'To be a part of something so special when my body won’t move clearly yet. And then I felt the love from the photographers who have watched me goof around on red carpets since I was in my twenties. 

'I felt the warmth of the bulbs. The strength of my gown. His attentive touch,' she continued. 'And still I hoped my brain could send signals for the remainder of my time there. And I sobbed. And I appreciated every single second. Every surprising tear, he was there. As he has always been. And that is the reason I could.'

Fun times: The actress joked that she later 'pushed' her way into a family photo with Diana Ross, her children Tracee Ellis Ross and Evan Ross, and her daughter-in-law Ashlee Simpson

Selma ended her post by once again thanking Troy for being there for her when she needed him.   

'We got me just where I wanted to be. For a night. And I later pushed my way into a family photo with @dianaross (omg),' she said. 'So much to post but not before this one. True love. Right here. Forever.' 

While enjoying the bash, she happily shared a photo of herself with Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes.

'I have arrived,' she began. '@shondarhimes @VanityFair Oscar dinner. Congratulations to all the amazing talent.'

When she returned home after her night out, she took to Instagram Stories to make a plea for her 867,000 followers to support the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia.

Mingling: Selma was seen catching up with Mindy Kaling, who attended the party with her former Office co-star B.J. Novak 

Custom: Ahead of the event, Selma revealed a 'monogram and a real pink diamond' were placed on her cane 

In the series of videos, she explained that her friend Pink nominated her to join designer Stella McCartney's #ThereSheGrows campaign by dedicating a tree to help save the endangered forest. 

Selma, who dedicated a tree to her seven-year-old son, Arthur, asked her friends Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kris Jenner to do the same while raising awareness for the Leuser Ecosystem.   

'The Leuser Ecosystem is an endangered forest in Indonesia and it is home to the endangered Sumatran orangutan and it desperately needs our help and attention,' the actress explained. 

'You can join with us by dedicating your own tree on Instagram and nominate your own friends with the hashtag #ThereSheGrows.' 

Ahead of her appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscars party, Selma posted an Instagram photo that showed some of the work that went into customizing her cane for the evening.

Doing good: When she returned home after her night out, she took to Instagram Stories to make a plea for her 867,000 followers to support the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia

Mother and son: Selma, who dedicated a tree to her seven-year-old son, Arthur, asked her friends Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kris Jenner to do the same

'This is love. @tombachik customizing my cane with my monogram and a real pink diamond,' she began. 

'How did I get so lucky? I wanted a special cane for #vanityfair dinner. So... @lyonhearted went out and found patent leather and @bic_owen and he stitched it on.

'Hours of love put in. And then #tombachik made it especially magical. I burst into tears. These gifts to get me through. #subtle #chic #love. I can’t thank these three enough. There are angels.'

Selma revealed in October that she had been diagnosed with MS a few months before, after living with symptoms for years.

Her diagnosis has not stopped her from working, and she was recently cast in the upcoming Netflix series Another Life.

She also has appeared in two movies that are in post-production, After with Meadow Williams and Jessica Beals and The Great Illusion with Ireland Baldwin.

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/26/selma-blair-says-she-self-medicated-and-drank-to-deal-with-undiagnosed-ms-pain/
Main photo article Selma Blair has revealed that her shock multiple sclerosis diagnosis actually came, in part, as a relief because it finally provided her with an answer to questions about her health that she had been asking for years. 
The 46-year-old actress, who opened up about her ongoing battle with the ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca





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