Selma Blair is battling multiple sclerosis.
Selma Blair via Instagram (c)
The 46-year-old revealed on Instagram that she suffers with the condition which affects the brain and spinal chord as the body mistakes myelin - which is supposed to protect the nerve fibres in the central nervous system - for a foreign body and attacks it.
The condition - which is also known as MS - is different for everybody and can produce a range of symptoms, but in the 'Cruel Intentions' star's lengthy social media post, she revealed it causes her to "fall" and "drop things".
She wrote: "I was in this wardrobe fitting two days ago. And I am in the deepest gratitude. So profound, it is, I have decided to share. The brilliant costumer #Allisaswanson not only designs the pieces #harperglass will wear on this new #Netflix show , but she carefully gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my coats and offers her shoulder to steady myself.
"I have #multiplesclerosis . I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and will power and the understanding producers at Netflix , I have a job. A wonderful job. I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps. But we are doing it . And I laugh and I don't know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best. (sic)"
The 'Hellboy' actress was diagnosed with MS in August, and says since then, she's had a whole host of friends, including fellow stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze and Jaime King, to lean on for support.
She continued: "Since my diagnosis at ten thirty pm on The night of August 16, I have had love and support from my friends , especially @jaime_king @sarahmgellar@realfreddieprinze @[email protected] . My producers #noreenhalpern who assured me that everyone has something. #chrisregina #aaronmartin and every crew member... thank you. I am in the thick of it but I hope to give some hope to others. And even to myself. You can't get help unless you ask. It can be overwhelming in the beginning. You want to sleep. You always want to sleep. So I don't have answers. You see, I want to sleep. But I am a forthcoming person and I want my life to be full somehow. I want to play with my son again. I want to walk down the street and ride my horse. (sic)"
Selma thinks she may have been battling the illness for "15 years at least", but was only diagnosed after she fell over in front of her doctor with what she assumed to be pain from a "pinched nerve".
Closing off her Instagram message, she wrote: "I have MS and I am ok. But if you see me , dropping crap all over the street, feel free to help me pick it up. It takes a whole day for me alone. Thank you and may we all know good days amongst the challenges. And the biggest thanks to @elizberkley who forced me to see her brother #drjasonberkley who gave me this diagnosis after finding lesions on that mri. I have had symptoms for years but was never taken seriously until I fell down in front of him trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve. I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least. And I am relieved to at least know. And share. my instagram family... you know who you are. (sic)"
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