Cruise vs. Shields

[paiger81]

www.usatoday.com

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooke Shields took aim at Tom Cruise's Today show diatribe against antidepressants, saying the drugs helped her survive feelings of hopelessness after the birth of her first child.

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Mr. Cruise has never suffered from postpartum depression," she wrote in an editorial published Friday in The New York Times. (Related item: Read Brooke Shields' War of the Words)

Cruise had criticized the actress for taking the drugs, and became particularly passionate about the issue in an interview on Today last week.

"You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do," Cruise told Matt Lauer.

He went on to say there was no such thing as chemical imbalances that need to be corrected with drugs, and that depression could be treated with exercise and vitamins. Shields called those remarks "a disservice to mothers everywhere."

Shields said she considered swallowing a bottle of pills or jumping out the window at the lowest point of her depression following the birth of her daughter, Rowan Francis, in 2003. A doctor later attributed her feelings to a plunge in her estrogen and progesterone levels and prescribed the antidepressant Paxil.

"If any good can come of Mr. Cruise's ridiculous rant, let's hope that it gives much-needed attention to a serious disease," she wrote.

Shields described her post-childbirth experiences in Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression.

Cruise is a follower of Scientology, a religion that teaches that psychiatry is a destructive pseudo-science.

In an interview with AP Radio Wednesday night, Kelly Preston, who is also a Scientologist, defended the actor's Today show comments about Shields. "If you're going to be advocating drugs, which she does in her book, you need to be responsible for also telling the people of the potential risks."

Preston also said Cruise's heated debate with Lauer was "very helpful because it's just raised awareness. People are talking about it now, and that's what they should be."

"Whatever your political, social or religious background, this is an issue that affects all of us," she said. "It is not just a Scientology issue."

[capella]

I love how psychiatry is "pseudo-science" to a religion like, um, Scientology OK, OK, sure. I think this is all just more publicity hype designed to boost box office numbers. ;)

[biodork]

www.usatoday.com

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooke Shields took aim at Tom Cruise's Today show diatribe against antidepressants, saying the drugs helped her survive feelings of hopelessness after the birth of her first child.


Heh they used diatribe.

[meatwad]

I think we're over medicated as a society, but I think that there's at least a minority of people for which the medication definitely is needed.

[tina1979]

I think he needs to not worry about what other people do.

[meatwad]

So if he gets married he'll have married an older woman, someone his own age and robbed the cradle. Watch out Coco Cox-Arquette and Estelle Getty, he's going for the cycle!

[Benwa]

I say if your going to be overmedicated, be sure your taking the right drugs. Sadly most of those are illegal.

[pisces2473]

Coco is Courtney's daughter...

Ummm he was a real ass, telling Matt Lauer that he knew more about psychological problems than he (Matt) did. WTF? He does NOT have a PhD in psych. Those comments were really harsh--yes, eating well and exercise can help someone out of their depression, but sometimes, one is SO depressed they can't even get out of bed to eat well and exercise! He's mouthing off WAY too much and needs to STFU.

[aprilangel]

At first it was cute his antics and the whole katie holmes thing but now He's lost me at psuedoscience. Who the fuck does he think he is? He read about psychology as presented from a biased pov that of the scientologist. That's almost as going to catholic school and learning about evolution. But yeah he knows all about psychology. Where as we all know there are people that don't per se need the medications they take there are people who truly need that medication not just to feel better about themselves but to function in life. Remarks like he's so easily spouting are almost barbaric. I'm disgusted with him and he almost lost me as a fan. Damn him for bring so great as Lestat.

[meatwad]

Coco is Courtney's daughter...

Yeah, that was the point. Cause she's a famous baby and Estelle Getty is a famous old lady.

[paiger81]

Yeah, that was the point. Cause she's a famous baby and Estelle Getty is a famous old lady.


You are an odd duck.......

[hopeless]

Like others Cruise is entitled to his opinions & views, but I hate how he's acting as if he's god or something thinking he can solve the overmedication of society as if he's an expert when he doesn't have a degree in medicine or psychology. He can research all he wants, but that doesn't necessarily make him the expert in about everything. I mean he doesn't want it's like to have postpartum depression & he would never understand what Shields went through. I hate him acting as if he's right in everything, constantly expressing his love for Holmes, totally sick of that, & he's big SOB for all I care since I'm a fan of his, though I've seen a few of his movies I admit & some of them he did well acting in.

[and1grad]

LOL...but psychology IS a pseudo-science, so i'm missing the point here. Also, Lauer's an asshole. He's proven that on many occasions. Why are u all sticking up for him? I was hoping this would be a thread on which one of these actors you'd take in a fight. I think I'd take Shields...only b/c i'm sure she'd fight dirty.

[bridgetjones]

I do agree that drugs are overprescribed, people should not blindly trust whatever a doctor says and do thier own health related homework. That goes for any health condition not just mood disorders. I would not go for drugs unless it is a last resort. I generally would get tests done to see if there is an imbalance but I do that to keep myself healthy not just when sick.

Hey think about it, doctors do not get paid to keep you healthy! They do get paid to push drugs and treat sick people. My own doc joked that ppl like me make him broke. Ha ha ha... :neutral: So yeah be wary...

However, I think Cruise was way arrogant in how he expressed his opinion. Never was a fan really but liked some of his movies.

Other comments:
- When I went to Catholic school we were taught to look at genesis as a fable with a moral message, not as scientific fact. As for um... non-Catholic bible thumper types... Cannot say...
- Estelle Getty is the lady from Golden Girls, right?

[aprilangel]

Yes drugs are overpiced in many ways drugs that cost money that goes to research cures for other diseases. Yes we all like to say that we try to keep ourselves healthy and "I wouldnt want to take drugs for depression,etc" but that doesnt mean shit when it's not you who needs the help. When it's not your family who needs the help and have tried alternate methods and found that the medicines are what keep them stable and a functioning member of society. When you're honestly placed in that position then feel free to offer up an opinion on the matter. When Tom Cruise is in that position I'd like to see what he would honestly do. "Sorry kiddies Daddy doesnt believe that you need any drugs even though you've been diagnosed as ADHD suck it up!" To try to argue that the knowledge he claims to know is not from a biased pov is just complete idiocy.

When I went to Catholic school we were taught to look at genesis as a fable with a moral message (yeah...right...a fable...yeah thats what they taught)


She mentioned Coco and Estelle Getty because shes saying he's completing the set. Why can't anyone get her joke? Sheesh.

[bridgetjones]

When I went to Catholic school we were taught to look at genesis as a fable with a moral message (yeah...right...a fable...yeah thats what they taught)



Yes that is what I was taught in Catholic school. It is part of the old testament so it is part of an oral tradition that was written down for historical recording. How do people pass on stories or what not? Through telling stories that are easy to remember. It has religious truth not neccessarily scientific truth. Makes sense to me...

Nobody taught me that the earth is only 6000 some odd years old and there were no parents protesting this fact at my school. I find it a bit irritating when people lump Catholics in with fundamentalist Christians.

Anyways back to the original discussion... :) Yes. In extreme cases, drugs might be needed. Mild depression is probably better cured by exercise, nutrition and solving the underlying problem that is causing unhappiness. Been there, done that....

[shinyleaf]

Psychology IS a pseudo-science? Meet me at the bike racks, because I'm gonna punch you in the frontal lobe. Or maybe in Broca's area so you can't talk nonsense anymore.

[wordsmith]

I find it smirkworthy that someone who subscribes to a pseudoreligion has the balls to call ANYTHING pseudo-anything. Other than that, I have no major beef with Tom Cruise, and do think that we are overmedicated as a society.

[butterfly7824]

IMHO Tom Cruise's idiotic rant is the eptiome of what's wrong with this copuntry people don't know how to mind their own f#%king business. I agree that this society is over medicated, but what Brooke Sheids does is none of his business. Why couldn't he attack pscyhology? Why bring her into it? Is she talking about how he divorced one woman, jumped into a relationship while still married or right after his divorce, then proposed to a women almost half his age while jumping up and down on Oprah's couch like the Engergizer bunny on crack? (Damn, that was a long sentence)
I like him, but he needs to keep his mouth shut

[MetFanL]

Tom Cruise representing the fight against overmedicating our society is equivalent to Michael Moore representing the Democratic party. He is probably right, but he's not the right spokesperson.

[paiger81]

See, I don't see Tom as right. I mean for anyone to say that all psychiatry is wrong, makes that person sound absurd. Yes, we are an overprescribed society, but there are some people who SEVERELY need those drugs.

[MetFanL]

I just meant that some of his statements are probably fact, but he goes about explaining it the wrong way... he gets way too hyper and dramatic about it while trying to make his point and then everyone discounts everything that comes out of his mouth b/c of his poor presentation.

[paiger81]

The reason he says that psychiatry is a pseudo-science is because the theories that the drug companies use in the medical trials have yet to be proven following the common scientific method. Science is supposed to be rigid, and strict when it comes to proving something as fact. Hypothesize and theorize all you want, but when it is time to accept something as fact, do your home work.


I find it funny that you seem to "know" what Tom Cruise meant. :razz:

[bridgetjones]

Ha ha ha... Tom Cruise should have gone through the OSS translator.

Some of those drugs are prescribed like candy without the testing. I know people that were given anti-anxiety meds because they were stressed out over school. I do not think the doctor would make very much money telling the kid how to manage his stress without drugs.

[wordsmith]

Not to minimize the struggles of people who ligitimately do benefit from appropriately prescribed medication, but there are TONS of doctors who definitely do not prescibe as a last resort. I would rather exhaust all options, but many doctors, including mine, are all too happy to medicate. I don't think it's too consipiracy theorist to point out the choke chain the pharmaceutical industry can have on doctors.

[shinyleaf]

Tom said pyschiatry was a pseudo-science, not psychology. There is a difference. The reason he says that psychiatry is a pseudo-science is because the theories that the drug companies use in the medical trials have yet to be proven following the common scientific method. Science is supposed to be rigid, and strict when it comes to proving something as fact. Hypothesize and theorize all you want, but when it is time to accept something as fact, do your home work.

The problem with over prescription is that lots of folks like to say we are an over prescribed country, but you ask any person who is taking one of these pills, they will in a heart beat tell you that they are they exception, that they definitely need it. So are we really over prescribed if everyone (and their psychiatrist) say they need it?

Another question.. when you go to a psychiatrist, what kind of tests does he do on your before he prescribes your drug X? If indeed you can detect certain mental illnesses via measure of seratonin levels or brain activity levels, why doesn't the Dr do this for you? How can he be sure there is something chemically wrong with you without having to take any biological measurement?

When you go to the doctor for heart problems, the Dr doesn't ask you a few questions and then gives you a pill/surgery. He takes blood measurements, blood pressure, x-rays, etc. Is the common psychiatrist as thorough as this?

Well what Tom doesn't understand is the scientific method, then. Theories are never proven, they can only be disproven. Is he saying that psychiatrists are prescribing medication that hasn't been run through proper clinical trials and come out as significantly effective? I find it hard to believe the entire medical community would let that go on. However, enter rich pharmaceutical companies, and out the window goes ethics and scientific rigour. Blame corporate greed, not psychiatry, for the overabundance of poor medications.

You're a fucking movie star, Tom. Spend a few years in skool before you try and come off as the surgeon general eh?


OSS: give psychiatry/psychology a little slack - the brain is 100x more complicated than the rest of the body, and knowledge about it is hundreds of years behind the rest of medicine. I'm not saying everything is done as it should be right now, but we really can't expect the same fine-tuned treatment and understanding of post-partum depression as the common cold.

[24forever]

Personally, I liked Tom a lot better when he was quiet. I also think we are an overmedicated society, but personally, I've tried to go without medication and do other things to help my depression/anxiety and I've struggled with it for a long time. Only now do I realize that I need the medication.

I think Brooke Sheilds was just trying to relate to women out there and let them know that they shouldn't be ashamed that they went through. Tom has no idea what women go through and he was refusing to admit that some people may need this. He's pigheaded for only seeing one point of view. Yes many people don't need the medication but some people do.