[jmo531]

Your comments about antidepressants on Access Hollywood — do you think going after Brooke Shields for her book about postpartum depression might have made the argument a little too personal?

Tom Crusie replied by saying the following:

It's not a matter of making it personal. I care about Brooke. I want to see her do well. I think she's really talented. But she's misinformed. And, you know, from that Access Hollywood interview, I've gotten over 154,000 responses from people thanking me. You should see some of the letters I get. People go for help but their lives don't get better because of these drugs. They get worse. They feel numb and they're told that's a good thing. It's becoming like Huxley's Brave New World. It's like what the English did to China with opium [in the 19th century]. How is this different? It's how you degrade a society — by drugging the %#@&#! out of it.

[jmo531]

Any thought? Hmmmmmm

[darkeyes]

I'm confused, is this Tom Cruise's comments/remarks?
Is this what he said about Brooke Shield's depression?
I'm leerie of his behaviour lately, he was on Jay Leno the other nite, acted immature and slightly spaced out.
I don't really get too wrapped up in the Hollywood scene, so I'm not in touch with all this stuff going on.
Whew! I'm glad I'm not a hollywood star.
Just plain old me, I prefer it that way

DE

[jmo531]

DE,

I corrected it a bit, I realized it wasnt that clear on Tom's comments.

I am a bit disturbed by his behavior and comments lately.

[CedarS]

I'm just shaking my head here. He is being slimey. He bashed Brooke and what he says here still isn't clean, it isn't without murky undertones.

He is generalizing, to the extreme.

He isn't allowing Brooke, or anyone who disagrees with him, to have their own experience.

I'd ask him "How is Brooke misinformed?". Being as she is speaking about her own experience.

[darkeyes]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! He is showing how ignorant he is and his followers, 154,000?
I don't wish anyone ill, but he deserves a dose of what people with mental disorders go through, even have him spend 2 weeks or more in the psyc.ward, then let's see how he feels.
I think he's a little, immature, obnoxious, twit that needs a slap in the face.
Needs to learn some respect and compassion for others. . .
grow up, Tom!

[CedarS]

Some wonder if he is going through a manic episode, and/or some sort of melt down.

When I cool down a bit and think this through, I figure, it is fine for folks to think and believe whatever, as long as it doesn't hurt others or themselves I suppose. We deserve basic human rights. But when, say I, then decide that everyone else has to believe what I do, when I publically berate others, when I keep telling everyone else they are wrong........eventually someone best stand up to me. Because I am way out of line.

[CedarS]

"You have to understand that with psychiatry, there is no science behind it, and to pretend that there is a science behind it is criminal."

Tome Cruise also said this. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._cruise09.html

So rude of him.

[darkeyes]

Grrrrrrrrrrrr! I wonder what has Tom, thinking he is some "high" being, that knows all?
Maybe illegal drug use? He is acting manic, I'm not sure if it is being drug induced or he has a disorder?
Ah, I won't even go on about him, he's got my dander up, grrrrrrrrrr!

[jmo531]

I'm nearly at a total loss for words. I can only say or reiterate what DE has already touched on.

Let him spend some time in a psych ward, or my brain for instance and then he can tell me how he feels about medication to treat mental illness. To me, it makes it sound that he feels that mental illnesses are a joke or over exaggerated and can be treated without medications. I know that my depression, OCD and Panic Disorder was not and could not be tolerable with out my current medications. I hate it when ppl think they know it all. I live it so I have the right to speak about it.

[SeptemberMorn]

Eh, he's just ignorant of the facts! Also, he figures because all the stars got on the bandwagon during the election, he's got something "bigger" to tout.

I didn't listen or care what the stars said during the election. I don't particularly care that Cruise has been brainwashed by the Scientologist... or at the very least, they've kept him ignorant by teaching against medicine.

It's pretty low of him to single out well known personalities, though. He should be speaking strictly for himself and no one else.

[h0kie]

I'm disappointed, honestly. From an outside view, it makes me believe he is talking mostly about depression. I haven't been following this closely (and I could be wrong) but that is the feeling I am getting. Let him experience someone with bipolar or another illness or two. Get the full mental illness view.

I believe you shouldn't judge someone unless you have walked in their shoes. Tom hasn't so he needs to stop judging. I wonder if anyone has contacted NAMI?

He's showing his true colors. And when Mission Impossible 3 comes out, or any of his new movies, I, for one, will not be going anywhere near his movie.

I agree, grow up, Tom!

[DocJohn]

Tom Cruise is a Scientologist. One of Scientology's "enemies" is psychiatry and the current mental health system. They believe, literally, that it is "evil." So Tom Cruise, as one of the most public figures of Scientology, has no problem bringing it up and suggesting people don't need medications, they just need a new religion (his, of course).

One of the things I dislike about modern society is people thinking they have not only a right, but a responsibility, to push their beliefs onto you. (Trust me, if I wanted someone else's beliefs, I would already have them!) One of the benefits of living in this society, however, is we are welcomed to ignore them. And ignore the raving narcissistic fools propounding their ridiculousness.

DocJohn

"Now tell me how you *really* feel..."

[CedarS]

I hope people who are just beginning to think about mental illnesses, who may themselves have just gone through their first episode of any sort, figure out quickly to ignore the "raving narcissistic fools propounding their ridiculousness", (I love that line of Doc John's!) or at least listen to wise guidance that steers them away.

Perhaps we can put a neon sign over Tom's head that reads -Don't Try This at Home.-.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
One of the things I dislike about modern society is people thinking they have not only a right, but a responsibility, to push their beliefs onto you. (Trust me, if I wanted someone else's beliefs, I would already have them!) One of the benefits of living in this society, however, is we are welcomed to ignore them. And ignore the raving narcissistic fools propounding their ridiculousness.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">May I cross stitch this onto a sampler?? Thanks for your words. Will you now be known as Doc John-defender of mental health from celebrity ignorance?

[darkeyes]

That was a good one.
Tom, agitates me, the very thought of the damage he is doing, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[CedarS]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Will you now be known as Doc John-defender of mental health from celebrity ignorance ?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Oh that is a wonderful title to give Doc John! With all the media attention recently on these irresponsible statements of Cruise's, and there is a -lot- of press on this, maybe a trend can be started of informed defense to counteract the nonsense.

When the samplers go into production, I'd like to order one also, please thank you.

[CedarS]

My guess is that NAMI is flooded with emails and questions on this issue, doesn't look like they've made any public statement, I checked their web site. The web in general is buzzing loudly about Tom's remarks and behavior, universally the reaction is thumbs down.

I do know that his church sues, sues, sues. As does Tom Cruise. I know that many newspapers etc won't publish much speaking of his church, cause they will get sued. Time Magazine was sued, for example. Hopefully this fact doesn't prevent folks from continuing to speak out on their support for options for people with mental illness.

[darkeyes]

Not knowing about this Scientology stuff, I was curious to know what do they base their ridiculous opinions of mental health/meds/psychiatry, do they have any scientific evidence that proves psychiatry and/or meds do not help people?
If they have no proof or names of researchers to prove the mental health field is no good, I'd like to hear what they base their narrow, ignorant remarks/comments on.
Okay, Tom and his fans can believe what they want, but it is very wrong to try to discourage others from getting professional help.
It seems like he belongs to some odd cult or something
If anyone saw him on Leno the other nite, Tom was acting real weird, for some reason he went over to the couch there and stood on it, what was up with that?
Ah, I need to get away from the topic of "Tom Cruise", why don't he take a "cruise" and not return, ha!ha!
Ship of fools.

Back to work,
DE

[SeptemberMorn]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
It seems like he belongs to some odd cult or something

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

In some people's opinion, Scientology IS a cult. They believe in "mind over matter" and anything else, too, I do believe. L. Ron Hubbard, IMO, is a mind controller. You see why psychology doesn't have room in his "religion"?

I got their "bible" a long time ago, just to see who my "enemy" is. It got too scary to finish. One of the first chapters, though, is "clearing" your mind... of everything you believed before?? No thanks!

Oh, BTW, John Travolta is also a Scientologist.

[jmo531]

Apparently Scientology is very big in Hollywood.

[darkeyes]

They have nothing left to turn to probably
I dunno

Perhaps, they have left the "real world" through the portal of fame and riches?
I have no answers, but still I am glad I am just the "plain, ordinary, me".

Have a good weekend, y'all.

DE

[(JD)]

What Scientology won't tell you - click here

In the USA, scientology IS a cult. As with any cult, it has plenty of things to say that sound true... but how much poison would you like with your truth?

Thanks DocJohn for your response. I was wondering why ppl weren't understanding that this man's beliefs about medication and mental unwellness stem from his cult teachings.

[nothemama8]

After he stared in "Rainman" he of all ppl should understand mental health
angie

[reflecting_man]

It's been my observation that one of the indulgences afforded the rich, and moreover, the rich celebrity; is the means and capacity for self-delusion. I doubt Mr. Cruise would fare all that well, were he deprived of his wealth & status, and subjected to the realities that the common man or woman must deal with on a daily basis. Even more so were he unfortunate enough to find himself dealing with the black dog of depression.

He is in an insulated position where he can (so far) take potshots at Brooke Shields, and by proxy all who suffer from depression and are treated with medication. All this (again, so far), without supporting his position with a shred of factual evidence. That's a shame. Those who suffer from depression (and yes, I belong to that club) have enough on their plates already. They hardly need such disinformation floating around.

I read the article in the link you provided. Having had a more-than-casual acquaintance with the CoS in my youth, I wasn't surprised. His slanderous statements concerning psychiatry are nothing more than the sycophantic regurgitation of standard Church of Scientology propaganda. It is laughable to anyone with two brain cells to rub together. My thought on the matter is that he should stick to what he does best... acting out ficticious roles in motion pictures.

Fortunately, I doubt we'll hear too much more from him on this topic. There's a limit to what the ticket buying public will tolerate. And there are other moderating factors as well. I doubt the APA would maintain their silence if Scientology's current media darling continued his campaign of slander & libel. And not every producer and casting director in Hollywood is enamored with the CoS. Were Tommy Boy to stop bouncing off of couches and shouting down Ms. Shields for a bit, he might learn that there are people in Hollywood that have been hurt, some quite maliciously, by his cherished CoS. But alas, it is the nature of self-delusion to avoid confronting such realities.

As an aside to this, I did stop using Paxil about a year ago. It had nothing to do with statements by Tom Cruise, or by anyone else for that matter. It was a simple matter of economics. I have found myself, at best, only marginally employed since September 11th, 2001. Without any form of insurance, it came down to choosing either the Paxil, or amenities such as a telephone and running water. I gave up the Paxil in favor of taking showers and staying in touch with my elderly parents four states away. That's an option I don't recommend, if you can avoid it. Boy, what I wouldn't give to have the means for a little self-delusion. Thanks for letting me rant.

I hope your day is a good one. Peace.

RM