Selma Blair has detailed the shocking moment a doctor suggested that she needed a boyfriend, when she complained of her health issues.
The 51-year-old (MS) in 2018, and shared the news of her condition on Instagram that year.
Despite , it took a very long time for the Cruel Intentions actress to receive a diagnosis, as her issues weren’t taken seriously by professionals.
Appearing on Meet the Press, moderator Kristen Welker touched on their responses, and questioned: ‘One doctor even told you, “Maybe you need a boyfriend.” What was that like, was it infuriating?”
‘I just cry, I just cried,’ she replied. ‘I had no capability to process. What am I supposed to do with this information? I knew the pain was real, I thought it was but I did start to convince myself, “You’re overly sensitive. There’s nothing wrong with you. Get it together, you lazy, lazy whatever.”
‘It was very uncomfortable.’
MS can cause symptoms including problems with vision, balance and movements of the arms or legs.
, it is a lifelong condition which can cause disability, and is more common in women than men.
‘The period from three until about five years ago was hell on earth for me,’ Selma recalled.
‘I’m not saying I had a horrible life, but the amount of discomfort, disbelief – from kids at school, all the doctors – I couldn’t trust myself. They were saying, “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild.
There is currently no cure for MS, but a number of treatments can help the condition. It is most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, although it can develop at any age.
It causes a wide range of potential symptoms, including fatigue, difficulty walking, problems with balance and co-ordination, and issues with vision.
Depending on the type of MS, symptoms may come and go in phases or get steadily worse over time (progress).
‘I spent my entire childhood on high antibiotics, until I develop anaphylaxis to all of them. And yet, it was just like, “oh this dramatic girl,” so that became my character and I blamed myself. I had a lot of medical trauma.’
The Legally Blonde star first revealed her diagnosis in 2018, and has since used her platform to raise awareness for MS.
At the time, she was praised by many for being so open, but candidly shared that this didn’t extend to any possible job opportunities.
In an interview with BBC last December, she was vocal in her belief that being so open had a negative impact on her career.
‘I was being very secretive about it because I was ashamed and concerned I wouldn’t work again,’ she told the outlet. ‘I know that my own MS took my career down. I had to stop working.
‘Disability was affecting me and taking me out of the workforce and, when I talked about it, there was so much support but I never got a job again.
‘I’m not bitter about that. I don’t know how much I’ve said, “Oh my God, I’m willing to be on a set all day”. I do want to go back to work.
‘I hope that my own knowledge of what I can handle can be a strength for me, because the people you work with do want to know what you can handle.’
