How Selma Blair on DWTS reshaped my view of my chronic illness
October 29, 2022 8:53 AM Subscribe
Selma Blair is my hero. That might sound trite or cliched, but it's hard to find the words to express just how much her run on Dancing With the Stars after a 2018 Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis meant to me. I too have a chronic illness (fibromyalgia). As anyone with a chronic illness will tell you, it can be difficult not to feel defined by your limitations, partly because our ableist society is designed to remind you of them at every turn — I've had my fibromyalgia diagnosis for 11 years and too often my way of dealing with it is to ignore it, trying to pretend it doesn't exist. But with her appearance on Dancing With the Stars, Blair proved that no matter the circumstances, it's your courage and your spirit that define you. (archive.ph link)
Oh gosh what a lovely last dance, the most poignant waltz, what a trooper, gracious and just beautiful and graceful.
posted by sammyo at 1:13 PM on October 29, 2022
posted by sammyo at 1:13 PM on October 29, 2022
I don't normally follow DTWS but I did know Blair was on it because I'm interested in her. I didn't know she'd chosen to bow out and I definitely would have missed this article if you hadn't posted it. So thanks for that.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:52 PM on October 29, 2022
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:52 PM on October 29, 2022
Selma Blair popped up in the news earlier today for giving her support to Christina Applegate as well
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:02 PM on October 29, 2022
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:02 PM on October 29, 2022
A nuanced view from Tripping on Air, Ardra Shephard, an advocate for those with MS (and similar to Selma Blair, rocking the mobility aids).
The Truth About How The MS Community Feels About Selma Blair.
posted by mephisjo at 10:55 PM on October 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
The Truth About How The MS Community Feels About Selma Blair.
posted by mephisjo at 10:55 PM on October 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
Thank you so much for sharing this, I have fibromyalgia along with multiple other chronic illnesses and it was great to read.
The thing people will tell you about invisible illness over and over is that the toughest part of it isn't so much the physical and mental symptoms as it is the invisibility — the sense that people can't see or won't believe your experiences (let's not even talk about the number of times I've been glared at for not giving up my seat on public transportation when I've desperately needed it).
The Paris metro has been much busier since the (almost resolved) fuel strikes to the point it’s rush hour packed all day every day, and having to annonce my disability every trip to get a seat has been wearing me down the last few weeks so this has been nice to read.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:52 AM on October 30, 2022 [5 favorites]
The thing people will tell you about invisible illness over and over is that the toughest part of it isn't so much the physical and mental symptoms as it is the invisibility — the sense that people can't see or won't believe your experiences (let's not even talk about the number of times I've been glared at for not giving up my seat on public transportation when I've desperately needed it).
The Paris metro has been much busier since the (almost resolved) fuel strikes to the point it’s rush hour packed all day every day, and having to annonce my disability every trip to get a seat has been wearing me down the last few weeks so this has been nice to read.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:52 AM on October 30, 2022 [5 favorites]
The Truth About How The MS Community Feels About Selma Blair.
Kind of weird framing...isn't she part of "the MS community?" And I'll never grasp the mindset (which I understand the article writer is not endorsing) that resents someone for being able to access a treatment that ought to be available for all whom it might benefit, but isn't, because of our unjust system. It's not like Blair is tripping around going la la la, MS is a piece of cake, you just need the right mindset (oh and by the way the wealth to get the proper care and support, but mostly positivity)!
posted by praemunire at 9:37 AM on October 30, 2022
Kind of weird framing...isn't she part of "the MS community?" And I'll never grasp the mindset (which I understand the article writer is not endorsing) that resents someone for being able to access a treatment that ought to be available for all whom it might benefit, but isn't, because of our unjust system. It's not like Blair is tripping around going la la la, MS is a piece of cake, you just need the right mindset (oh and by the way the wealth to get the proper care and support, but mostly positivity)!
posted by praemunire at 9:37 AM on October 30, 2022
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posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:35 AM on October 29, 2022 [2 favorites]