Working Through Grief
- Christina Applegate, 52, has been publicly battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for nearly four years, but the “Married with Children” star admitted in a recent interview that she’s still grieving the diagnosis and managing it by “isolating.”
- Applegate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in August 2021. The disease impacts the central nervous system and can cause numbness or tingling in your limbs. The “Married with Children” star also bravely battled breast cancer after a 2008 diagnosis. She underwent a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) to help treat the disease.
- Grief is defined as the devastation that occurs when we lose someone, or it could arise after a health diagnosis, like in Applegate’s case. It often comes in five stages: grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling.
- SurvivorNet experts advise that if you approach these feelings are approached with compassion, kindness, and eventual acceptance, you will come away from this period with a renewed sense of resilience and purpose.
- Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or changes in your physical health can affect your mental health.
- Psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman suggests people working on their mental health to practice positive psychology. Positive psychology focuses on encouraging positivity among patients and finding what brings a sense of vitality to their lives.
- SurvivorNet has other great mental health resources for you, including more films that will inspire you.
RELATE: Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Inspiring Stories from SNTV
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Applegate ultimately admitted she “might get to a place where I will function a little bit better” but she understand an emotional road ahead exists.
“Right now, I’m isolating,” Applegate explained. “And that’s kinda how I’m dealing with it is by not going anywhere, because I don’t want to do it. It’s hard.”
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.@ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: “I’m never going to wake up and go, ‘This is awesome.’…I wake up and I’m reminded of it every day.” Christina Applegate opens up to @robinroberts about the grief and acceptance on her MS diagnosis. Watch the full interview tomorrow on @GMA. pic.twitter.com/C9zHQonJUY
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 12, 2024
It’s apparent that Applegate has been aware of the ongoing grieving process she would endure at the time of her diagnosis, when she tweeted on August 10, 2021m “Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition.
“It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a–hole blocks it..”
Speaking during the GMA interview at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Applegate said, alongside her friend, fellow actress, and MS warrior Jamie-Lynn Sigler, “My symptoms had started in the early part of 2021, and it was, like, literally just tingling on my toes.
“And by the time we started shooting in the summer of that same year, I was being brought to set in a wheelchair. Like, I couldn’t walk that far.”
She also recounted her Selma Blair, who is also living with MS, urging her to get checked.
Applegate recounted telling Blair, “Really? The odds? The two of us from the same movie. Come on, that’s not gonna be — that doesn’t happen.'”
She also recalled dismissing her symptoms years before her diagnosis, saying, “I really just kind of put it off as being tired, or I’m dehydrated, or it’s the weather,.
“And then nothing would happen for, like, months, and I didn’t pay attention.”
Applegate continued, “They call it the invisible disease. It can be very lonely because it’s hard to explain to people. I’m in excruciating pain, but I’m just used to it now.”
Her recent interview comes about two months after Applegate was seen emotionally telling the audience at the Emmys on January 15, 2026, “Thank you so much, oh my God. You’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up, it’s fine, OK.
“It’s fine … Body not by Ozempic. Okay. Let’s go.”
.@1capplegate talks to @RobinRoberts about presenting at the Emmys and receiving a standing ovation: "It was a really beautiful thing."
See more of Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler's first sit-down interview about the battle they both face with MS on GMA tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/1sEjEZ7psT
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 11, 2024
It was heartwarming to see Applegate charming the crowd with her humor and resilience after walking out onto the stage, with her cane in hand, and comedian, and host of the event, Anthony Anderson kindly escorting her in.
At one point she even said, “We don’t have to applaud every time I do something.”
Despite all the challenges MS brings her, Applegate continues to persevere and spread awareness for the illness which continues to cause her pain. However, with the immense support Applegate has during her MS journey helps make it easier to cope.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis causes the immune system to attack cells that form the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers in the spinal cord. The disruption leads to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
Once the protective barrier is damaged, the spinal cord struggles to communicate to the body’s arms, legs, and other parts to function normally.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society lays out the different types of multiple sclerosis:
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is when an individual experiences a single neurological episode lasting 24 hours or less. CIS is what MS is diagnosed as until there is a second episode.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The most common MS among the million people battling the disease in the US, RRMS is marked by sudden flare-ups, new symptoms, or worsening of symptoms and cognitive function. The condition will then go into remission for some time before reemerging with no known warning signs.
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS): These individuals have no flare-ups or remission, just a steady decline with progressively worse symptoms and an increasing loss of cognitive and body functions.
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): This almost transitional form of MS progresses from RRMS to PPMS.
In addition to balance issues, numbness, and tingling in the limbs, as Applegate experienced, other common MS symptoms include vision and bladder control problems. Mood changes and mental and physical fatigue are other symptoms people living with MS may experience, according to the National Institute of Health.
‘Cruel Intentions’ Star Selma Blair Rehearses For ‘Dancing With The Stars’ While Living With Multiple Sclerosis: ‘We Do These Things We Want To Find Joy In’
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains this disease as: “An unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, [MS] can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.” Investigators of the disease believe it to be an autoimmune disease.
Many people fighting MS experience muscle weakness and difficulty with coordination and balance, so it’s absolutely incredible and encouraging that Applegate was able to present an award in front of so many people at the Emmys.
Currently, there is no cure for MS, although some people treat the disease using chemotherapy, medications, or steroid drugs.
Coping with a Chronic Illness
Coping with a chronic illness, such as Applegate’s MS, is an ongoing journey. SurvivorNetTV’s Defying All Odds shows that journey, with Dr. Terry Wahls at the helm.
The world-renowned doctor and scientist documented her powerful story from diagnosis to recovery as she moved through Multiple sclerosis. Dr. Wahls was determined to continue practicing medicine much like Applegate continued acting to finish a TV series even after her diagnosis.
Dr. Wahls like Applegate, relies on support tools for her condition. She uses a wheelchair. Applegate uses a cane.
SurvivorNetTV Presents Defying All Odds A World-Renowned Doctor’s Incredible Journey Through MS
Dr. Wahls also made significant changes to her lifestyle, like practicing a paleo diet consisting mainly of grass-fed meat, fish, leafy and root vegetables, and nuts. After opting for her paleo diet, the doctor saw some improvements in her condition.
Blair’s and Dr. Wahls’ stories of success amid a challenging chronic illness is a testament to how it is possible to overcome obstacles even if the odds are stacked against us.
SN & You Presents Mental Health: Coping With Emotions
Understanding Grief
Grief is defined as the devastation that occurs when we lose someone, but it could also be felt after a major life change like an MS diagnosis. Grieving comes in five stages, commonly referred to as the “five stages of grief.”
The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can occur in any order.
As you find yourself experiencing some of these stages, remember that the emotions you are feeling are meaningful but also temporary. If you approach them with compassion, kindness, and eventual acceptance, you will come away from this period with a renewed sense of resilience and purpose.
Applegate has admitted she’s unsure when or if the grieving process will end, but she’ coping with it the best she can.
“Grief comes in waves,” says Dr. Scott Irwin, a psychiatrist and Director of Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Dealing With Grief Related to Health Problems
“They’re grieving the change in their life; the future they had imagined is now different.”
Some days can be more challenging than others, but Dr. Irwin says talk therapy can be helpful. It’s important to reach out to your doctor, a therapist, or support groups in your community for the help you need.
Managing Your Mental Health
Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or changes in your physical health can affect your mental health.
Psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman suggests people working on their mental health to practice positive psychology. Positive psychology focuses on encouraging positivity among patients and finding what brings a sense of vitality to their lives.
WATCH: Managing your mental health amid a health challenge.
Dr. Boardman also suggests asking yourself questions about how you deal with stressful situations to see if they’re working or need adjusting.
“Are your coping strategies in the way that you’re using them now? Are they as effective as they were in the past? Take a look at your beliefs. Do you have any fixed beliefs that are counterproductive and impeding you from taking positive steps?” Dr. Boardman said.
To keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of subtle signs indicating something is affecting your mind. These signs include:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numb and/or hopeless feelings
- Turning to drink or drugs more than usual
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
If you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional to begin your emotional journey alongside your other cancer treatment.
“Depression and stress make it harder to treat cancer [and] make it harder to tolerate the treatments,” Dr. Scott Irwin, director of supportive care services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
“There’s data that if you have extra stress or depression that you may not recover or you have a higher risk of recurrence, so in treating the depression, we’re actually impacting the cancer care outcomes,” Dr. Irwin added.
Psychologist Dr. Samantha Board discusses managing mental health long-term.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
- How can seeking these connections help me in my day-to-day life?
Dr. Lori Plutchik explains how genetic testing can help with mental health treatment.
Applegate’s Breast Cancer Journey
Applegate’s breast cancer journey began in April 2008 at just 36 years old. She previously told CNN, “I went through five weeks of work without telling anyone that this was going on in my life.
Applegate said she had dense breasts and would need more thorough examinations for her routine mammogram screenings, noting that her doctor suggested she get an MRI – which revealed something “some funky things going on [in one breast],” she said.
A biopsy confirmed her diagnosis, but luckily, the cancer was caught early. Despite her prognosis, she was still very concerned with her diagnosis. She then turned her worry into determination, and she focused her efforts on beating the cancer. She underwent a lumpectomy, which is a procedure that removes the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue. For early-stage breast cancer, studies have shown that lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective a treatment in preventing breast cancer recurrence as mastectomy.
WATCH: What to know about dense breasts.
Applegate then underwent six weeks of radiation, using high-energy beams aimed at the cancer cells to kill them. During treatment, she then learned she tested positive for the BRCA gene, increasing her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
“That sort of changed everything for me. Radiation was something temporary, and it wasn’t addressing the issue of this coming back or the chance of it coming back in my left breast. I sort of had to kind of weigh all my options at that point,” she explained.
The actress’ doctor gave her treatment options, but she ultimately opted for a double mastectomy, which removes both breasts to reduce her cancer risk. When a woman undergoes a double mastectomy, it is a personal and emotional decision that impacts how they feel about themselves.
“It just seemed like, ‘I don’t want to have to deal with this again. I don’t want to keep putting that stuff in my body. I just want to be done with this,’ and I was just going to let them go,” she explained.
Just before the procedure, Applegate said she staged her “first and last nude photo shoot” so she could remember her breasts. Just before the surgery began, Applegate admitted she began to cry.
“The floodgates just opened up, and I lost it…It’s also a part of you that’s gone, so you go through a grieving process and a mourning process,” she explained.
WATCH: Testing for the BRCA gene mutation.
Contributing: SurvivorNet
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