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Friends star ‘doesn’t enjoy living’ because of chronic illness-Rishma Dosani-Entertainment – Metro
Heartbreaking.
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Christina Applegate has spoken out over her depression struggles (Picture: Getty)
Christina Applegate has opened up about her deep depression, explaining that she ‘doesn’t enjoy living’ at the moment.
The Dead Like Me actress announced that she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2021, and stepped out of the spotlight to focus on her health.
The 52-year-old has previously voiced her struggles over the devastating condition, explaining that she has suffered 30 lesions on her brain.
Speaking on a new episode of her MeSsy podcast, with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, she revealed that she was struggling with the symptoms, and is no longer ‘enjoying things’.
‘This is being really honest … I don’t enjoy living. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy things anymore,’ she said, before touching on a recent TV appearance.
‘I did the television thing – that was the hardest day of my life. It started at 11am and I didn’t get home until 9:30. I think I slept for two days straight after that, I couldn’t function.
Christina spoke out over her diagnosis in 2021 (Picture: Getty)
‘I’m in a depression right now, which I don’t think I’ve felt that for years. Like a real, f**k it all depression.
‘Real depression where it’s scaring me, too, a little bit because it feels really fatalistic, it feels really end of. I’m not saying that, I don’t mean that…
‘I’m trapped in this darkness right now that I haven’t felt [in] I don’t even know how long, probably 20-something years.’
Christina shared that she reached out to her therapist for an appointment, but had ‘avoided’ this as she was afraid to start crying.
‘I have avoided therapy since I’ve been diagnosed because I’m so afraid to start crying, and that I’m not going to be able to end crying,’ she continued.
The actress has lit up the screen over the years – including in Friends (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘I’m so afraid for those floodgates to open, and that I won’t be able to stop.’
Jamie-Lynn, who came to fame as Meadow on the Sopranos, rushed to comfort her pal, begging her to stay strong and not give up.
‘A lot of why you’re not enjoying it is that it’s hard. It is so hard to live in a disabled body. I will not take that away from you and I am right there with you. It is hard. What makes it harder is when you compare it to how it used to be,’ she replied.
‘Once we get you to this place where we’re accepting that this is how it’s going to be, maybe forever. To me, it’s not a reason enough for you to stop living. I sit here across from you and you still make me laugh like nobody else can, you still make me smile. You make me feel loved, I enjoy talking to you.
‘You were up on a stage with an entire auditorium of people and everyone at home watching you, wanting to shower you with love because you deserve it, and because what you have given people as a performer, and as a human.
Christina has been vocal about her symptoms (Picture: FilmMagic)
‘I can’t let you give up. I can’t. I need you to do it for me.’
MS is a lifelong condition that damages nerves in the body and makes it difficult for sufferers to do everyday things, including walking, talking and eating.
It causes a wide range of potential symptoms, including fatigue, difficulty walking, problems with balance and co-ordination, and issues with vision.
There is currently no cure, but some treatments can help the symptoms.
Christina announced her diagnosis in 2021, and recently appeared on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert to discuss her condition, shedding light on her most painful moments.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
From the NHS, MS is a condition affecting the brain and spinal cord, affecting balance and vision.
It’s a lifelong condition which effects people differently, ranging from mild symptoms to serious disability, and can be progressive.
Symptoms include:
Fatigue
Difficulty walking
Vision problems
Numbness and tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms
Balance and co-ordination problems
Problems thinking, learning and planning
‘I have 30 lesions on my brain, sores. My biggest one is behind my right eye, so my right eye hurts a lot,’ she told the host, sharing that her vision isn’t affected, but her mobility is.
‘We’re prolonging life with these treatments, it doesn’t mean I’ll be around in 10 years. I don’t know. That’s the scary thing about MS, there is no endgame.
‘I hate it so much, I’m so mad about it, you can’t overcome it. You can’t exercise – the second my feet hit my carpet in the morning and they’re hurting as bad as mine do every day, you go f**k it and go back to bed.
‘I’m being the worst MSer. We should be stretching, we should be trying to walk for five minutes. So, I beat myself up about that.’
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
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