Thelma Blair reveals how sobriety was a necessary step for her after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after years of suffering.

In a candid and wide-ranging new interview with Us Weekly, the actress said, “Once I found out I had M.S., (things) made a lot more sense (after suffering for a while). And I actually became much happier. I had these jerks and spasms for years, and I would try to suppress them, keep moving, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol to stop the big things that I thought were mental.”

When asked why she decided to get sober in 2016, actress Legally Blonde simply replied, “If I had not gotten sober, I would never have been diagnosed with M.S.. If I hadn't gotten sober, I wouldn't have been a good mother. I was self-medicating.”

Blair is the mother of 12-year-old Arthur, whom she had with her ex-boyfriend Jason Blake.

These days, the “Cruel Intentions” star is, in her own words, “very happy. She is in remission and must undergo many regular treatments to stay as healthy as possible. She also explained that she has a wonderful close-knit support system, including her best friend, actress Jamie King.

Overcoming her illness, Blair is also in a happy new relationship. She told Us Weekly, “He has producing experience, but he's not in this business. I wanted a Midwestern man, and I found a real Midwestern man. (Blair is from Michigan.)

Asked how they met, she replied, “I saw him from across the table and now he's my boyfriend.”

Blair publicly shared her M.S. diagnosis in 2018 and has since openly shared her journey with the disease.

Just five days ago, she posted a video on Instagram with the caption, “As the treatment date approaches, I find myself crying more, falling down more, sitting up more, finding it harder to catch my breath and unable to keep talking more evenly unless I whisper.” She added, “I am now healthier and stronger.”

To learn more about multiple sclerosis or to donate to research and awareness, visit the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, you can find resources at Alcoholics Anonymous and SAMHSA.