Christina Applegate Opens Up About MS Diagnosis and Its Impact on Her Daughter

Christina Applegate, the acclaimed Dead To Me actor, has once again spoken candidly about the toll her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis has taken, not only on her own health and daily life but also on her 14-year-old daughter, Sadie.

Now 53, Applegate has never shied away from publicly addressing the harsh reality of MS. In past interviews, she has described the disease as “the worst thing I’ve ever gone through,” a statement that underlines the depth of her suffering. Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological condition that attacks the protective covering of nerves, leading to muscle weakness, numbness, impaired coordination, and difficulties with balance and walking. Beyond the physical toll, the illness has brought what she calls “unimaginable” pain, a reality she continues to face each day.

The emotional impact on her daughter

In a heartfelt discussion on the latest episode of her podcast MeSsy, co-hosted with fellow actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Applegate revealed how her diagnosis has affected Sadie. She explained that her daughter grew up knowing her only as an active, vibrant, and energetic mother. “Sadie only knew me as healthy and a runner and, you know, someone on the Peloton, a dancer. That’s the mom she recognized,” Applegate reflected.

The diagnosis in 2021 was a turning point for both mother and daughter. At first, Sadie reacted with remarkable composure, appearing stoic. But over time, Applegate noticed subtle but heartbreaking changes in the way her daughter looked at her. “I see her watch me when I’m lying in bed unable to move, or when I try to walk down the hallway just to say goodnight but my legs won’t cooperate. It’s devastating,” she admitted. “Right now, I can barely make it to the bathroom, and I know she sees it. It’s broken her in a way, and it’s like she lost the mom she once had to this thing. And the older she gets, the more it hurts her.”

Sigler, who also lives with MS, gently agreed, pointing out that chronic illness creates “a very harsh reality” for children who must watch their parents suffer.

A diagnosis that followed Covid-19

Adding to the difficulty, Applegate’s diagnosis came on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic, when her daughter was already navigating disrupted schooling and the uncertainty of lockdowns. “We had just gone through Covid, no school, everything upside down—and then suddenly, Mommy couldn’t do any of the things she used to do. It was another huge loss,” she explained.

Despite the challenges, Applegate highlighted the compassion her daughter shows her in public. “When we’re out, she knows how anxious I get, and she always holds my arm, helps me with my cane, just trying to make it easier,” she shared with emotion. “At home, she still teases me—‘Mom, you’re the only one who can make my food. Can you please go down the stairs?’ And when I tell her I can’t, she insists. But in truth, I think she’s testing me, making sure she can still count on me. So I do it, even though it’s unbelievably hard.”

The reason she keeps going

Applegate has also opened up about what gives her strength to face each day. Speaking on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, she admitted: “I don’t get up in the morning for myself—I get up because of her. She’s the reason I’m still here and trying.”

In one especially emotional exchange, Applegate recalled Sadie telling her: “I miss who you were before you got sick.” The actor confessed that hearing those words felt like “a knife to the heart.” She added softly, “I miss that version of me too. More than I can say.”

Living with darkness

Beyond the physical struggles, Applegate has been honest about the mental health battles that accompany MS. On MeSsy, she confessed that she is currently in a deep depression unlike any she has experienced in years. “I don’t enjoy living right now. I don’t enjoy anything. Not even simple things like getting coffee or going for a walk. The comparison to how life used to be makes it unbearable.”

She continued: “It feels like I’m trapped in this darkness, a real ‘f***-it-all’ kind of depression. It scares me because it feels fatalistic, and I haven’t felt that way in 20 years. It’s heavy, and it’s real.”

Christina Applegate detailed her diagnosis in 2021 (Amy Sussman/WireImage)

A journey marked by resilience

Applegate first revealed her diagnosis publicly in 2021 on social media, calling it “a strange journey” but acknowledging the overwhelming support she has received from others living with MS. “It’s been a tough road,” she wrote at the time. “But the road keeps going, unless some a**hole blocks it.”

Her willingness to be brutally honest about both the physical and emotional realities of MS has made her a source of strength for others living with chronic illness. While she admits that her daughter’s words often cut deeply, they also serve as a reminder of the bond that keeps her moving forward.

For Applegate, every day is a battle, but also a testament to resilience—and to the unbreakable love between a mother and her daughter.