Christina Applegate Says She Isn’t Suicidal After Raising Concerns By Saying That ‘Living Isn’t Enjoyable’ With M.S. Diagnosis

Christina Applegate is getting candid about her battle with multiple sclerosis, addressing recent comments she made about “not enjoying life” since her diagnosis with the autoimmune disease.

The 52-year-old actress said on the latest episode of her podcast, MeSsy, that she was recorded earlier this year expressing “some dark stuff” about her mindset.

“I don’t enjoy living. I don’t enjoy things anymore,” Applegate told her co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler on a June 4 episode. “If someone can come over and lay in bed with me and talk, that’s enjoyable. But if someone’s like, ‘Let’s go for a walk’ or ‘get coffee,’ I don’t enjoy that process.”

Applegate was diagnosed with M.S. in August 2021 and has been open about her difficulties coping with the disease’s unpredictable symptoms, which can include fatigue, vision problems, impaired coordination and cognitive issues.

In the new podcast released Wednesday, Applegate said holding in dark thoughts only gives them more power. She started the show with fellow MS patient Sigler to discuss the realities of their illnesses openly.

“I feel like when we hold things in, we give them power,” said Applegate. “I also think that there’s so much shame a lot of people feel when they’re going through mental health issues.”

The Dead To Me star said being radically honest, even if it makes people uncomfortable, is “incredibly healing and important.”

Applegate stressed she is not suicidal but has difficult moments accepting her new reality after M.S. took away her former energetic and active life. Sigler related to occasionally wishing she didn’t wake up but praised her friend’s transparency.

“I dare anyone to be diagnosed with MS or any chronic illness… and go, ‘This is great,'” Applegate said. “You have moments of feeling, ‘This is tiring, and I don’t want to do this.’ But you do it.”

The actor said venting frustrations openly provides a “release of pressure” when dealing with an unpredictable disease without any cure.