Christina Applegate's MS Journey
- Christina Applegate, 54, a breast cancer survivor living with multiple sclerosis, is celebrated her new memoir “You with the Sad Eyes” becoming a New York Times Bestseller.
- Applegate was diagnosed with 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).
- Reaching milestones during or after a health battle matters. Milestones may include things like writing a new book, becoming a mother, getting engaged, or reaching another birthday, except they may mean even more than they did previously. Hence, taking them all in is important, and celebrating all you’ve overcome is important.
Applegate recently posted an emotional video on Instagram showing her in bed, listening to what appeared to be conference call announcing that her book had earned the top spot on one of the most influential best-seller lists in the United States.
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The video shows Applegate listening as a woman can be heard saying, “Alright, we have the full team assembled. Christina, we have absolutely incredible news for you.
“So, not only did you make the New York Times best seller list, but you debuted at number one on the notification list.”
The moment Applegate learned of her accomplishment, tears of joy immediately filled her eyes.
“We are so proud of you,” the women sharing the news said, adding, “And trust me, we are all crying with you.”
She continued, “So this is just one big pool of tears. We are crying out happy eyes, thought.”
Applegate—who has been living with MS since her August 2021 diagnosis, more than a decade after bravely facing breast cancer in 2008—then composed herself before saying, “Oh, my God. Thank you guys.”
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Breast cancer survivor and fellow actress Olivia Munn commented on Applegate’s post writing, “Incredible,” while actress Reese Witherspoon commented, “Now I’m crying – so deserved !!!”
Applegate’s fellow MS warrior, Selma Blair also chimed in to say, “So proud of you.”
Actor Eric Roberts commented, “THIS is what Social Media should be used for. Thank you so much for sharing this!
“Now I have @momelizaroberts sitting next to me in tears of joy for you.”
In another social media post celebrating the news, Applegate wrote, “I wrote this book with the hope that people would feel less alone.
“Thank you for reading, sharing, and making that a reality. I’m so grateful.”
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One fan commented, “The audiobook deserves an Oscar and Grammy!! So so freakin good!!”
Another wrote, “Congrats!!! I’m almost finished reading it. Great job and thanks for laying it all out there for us. Proud of you xoxo.”
A third fan commended her saying, “Congratulations!!! A lot of people do not understand that living with chronic pain is physically and emotionally exhausting.
“By sharing your story, you are speaking for all of us, so thank you.”
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“You With Sad Eyes” has been praised by the New York Times as “Funny, furious, and profane.”
The book, which was released on March 3, 2026, is described by Applegate as, “I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone. That’s why I’m doing this.
“‘You with the Sad Eyes’ won’t be some big violin scratching for my life. But it will be real. It will be filled with the ups and downs, the humor and grief of life. So here I am. Real me. Lots to say.”
Resilient learning to overcome any obstacle
Christina Applegate’s MS Journey
Applegate began experiencing symptoms of multiple sclerosis long before she had answers. She revealed that she felt unsteady during a dance scene from the very first season of her dark comedy “Dead to Me”, and later realized her tennis skills were beginning to decline.
“I wish I had paid attention,” she previously told The New York Times. “But who was I to know?”
It took several years of worsening tingling and numbness in her extremities before her diagnosis arrived while on set. This life-altering realization wouldn’t stop Applegate from finishing her portrayal of character Jen Harding, but she did need a break. Production of the final season ceased for about five months as she began treatment.
“There was the sense of, ‘Well, let’s get her some medicine so she can get better,'” Applegate said. “And there is no better. But it was good for me. I needed to process my loss of my life, my loss of that part of me. So I needed that time.”
Applegate admits she’ll never fully “accept” her condition, but she did learn how to work with it. And she’s previously talked about how the show was a cathartic outlet and safe space.
“I had an obligation to Liz [Feldman] and to Linda [Cardellini], to our story,” she said of the show’s writer and her co-star respectively. “The powers that be were like, ‘Let’s just stop. We don’t need to finish it. Let’s put a few episodes together.’ I said, ‘No. We’re going to do it, but we’re going to do it on my terms.’”
Applegate wasn’t able to work as hard or as long or in the heat without her body giving out, but she found pride in her self-sufficiency. With the help of some adjustments to the schedule, she powered through. Nicole Vassell, a writer for The Independent, says other programs should learn from the way Applegate’s “physical changes [were] seamlessly incorporated into the show.”
“This is the first time anyone’s going to see me the way I am,” Applegate said. “I put on 40 pounds; I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I am very aware of all of that.”
On an episode of the “MeSsy” podcast last year, Applegate shared that she has naturally lost those 40 pounds without using any anti-obesity medication. She jokingly added that the weight loss came as a side effect of managing stomach issues related to the medication she takes while navigating her MS journey.
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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.
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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.
Being Optimistic & Coping With Mental Health Long Term
People may turn to many different avenues to help them cope with mental health struggles, such as traditional therapy, support groups, meditation, and sometimes medical intervention such as antidepressants.
When faced with a new challenge, it’s important to make sure that these coping mechanisms you have to care for your mental health continue to work throughout the process.
“I think flexibility is really a core of how to manage it,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet. “Are your coping strategies that you’re using now, are they helpful in the way that they were in the past?”
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Dr. Boardman encourages people who may be struggling with their mental well-being to take stock of their belief system and ask themselves the following questions:
- Could these beliefs be harming me (like feelings of self-doubt or negativity)?
- Is my mindset holding me back from positive steps forward?
Dr. Boardman suggests working to recognize any negative thoughts that may be making the process of cancer treatment more difficult, and trying to dismantle those to be more “realistically optimistic.”
Remember, taking care of your mental health isn’t always easy, but it should always be a priority. One place to start is simply being aware of how you’re feeling and reflecting on any changes you’ve noticed in your emotions or behaviors.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, you should see a professional if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as:
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in appetite
- Struggling to leave bed in the morning because of your mood
- Trouble concentrating
- Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
- Inability to perform normal daily functions and responsibilities
It’s important to try to get help before your symptoms of a mental health issue become overwhelming. Talk with your primary care doctor about any concerns you’re having, so they can refer you to a mental health professional if needed.
Therapy can also be a way of taking care of your mental health. But know you might need to shop around for the right therapist. Ovarian cancer survivor Ni Guttenfelder says finding the right counselor allowed her to work through the complex emotions of her cancer battle.
“One of the things that my counselor has taught me from the very beginning that has helped me is the concept of acceptance,” she said. “Acceptance is a process. It’s like downloading a computer file in increments. Visualizing it in that way has really helped me.”
Meditation and practicing mindfulness can also be great tools in mental health care. Dr. Deepak Chopra, acclaimed author and pioneer of mindfulness movement, previously spoke with SurvivorNet about mindfulness. He says asking yourself who you are is the first step on the path to practicing mindfulness.
“If we can combine our actions in the world with reflective self inquiry, love and compassion, and a state of secure, stable, ornamental, peaceful being without the addictions that humans have, then we can begin our journey of healing,” Dr. Chopra explained.
In addition, medications can also help people with a mental health illness. They are not necessary for everyone, but medications can make a difference. And there should be no shame attached to taking them.
That being said, it can be tricky to find the right one and your needs may change over time. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says genetic testing through Genomind can help. It gives a profile of how a person is likely to respond to different types of psychiatric medications.
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“Doing the genetic testing has absolutely transformed the landscape of psycho-pharmacology,” Dr. Plutchik told SurvivorNet. “It’s something that I highly recommend for anybody that is taking medication, whether they are being treated for cancer, or not.
“I recommend it for children who are taking medication. I recommend it for elderly people. Anybody who is taking medication, I think, can greatly benefit from genetic testing.”
Staying Positive Makes a Difference
Many people battling a health condition such as a chronic disease or cancer often benefit from a positive attitude.
This is something Dr. Zuri Murrell of Cedars-Sinai says helps a cancer patient’s prognosis.
“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Murrell told SurvivorNet.
“My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now, doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” Dr. Murrell says.
WATCH: Focusing on positivity and emotional health.
Other experts SurvivorNet has spoken to recommend that anyone facing cancer make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love, which may include focusing on music like Dion.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, says people with cancer should be making time to do things that make them happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase said.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with MS or are concerned you have the chronic disease due to symptoms you’re experiencing, consider asking your doctor the following questions.
- Although there’s no cure for MS, which treatment option to manage my symptoms do you recommend for me?
- Are there any potential side effects of MS treatment?
- What if the treatment to manage symptoms doesn’t work?
- Will exercise or therapy help my symptoms?
- Are there any MS support groups you recommend to help me cope?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
