BellaOnline Forums Family Early Childhood Tom Cruise Vs. Brooke Shields & pseudo-science

I'd like to hear your thoughts on Tom Cruise's remarks about medical intervention for women dealing with post-partum depression and Brooke Shields. If you haven't heard about this you can read the latest article at Early Childhood.

This is a quote that gives the general overall viewpoint of Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise to Billy Bush of Entertainment Tonight:

He also called Brooke Shields irresponsible for taking Paxil to get through her postpartum depression, which she recounts in her book Down Came The Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression.

What do you think? Vote and/or post your opinion -

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Tom Cruise has hit midlife crisis full-blown. Who knew he was a doctor, too? I have no problem if he wants to campaign for vitamin therapy--I take lots myself. But he has no right to turn it into an attack on Brooke Shields' choice of legal, medically approved therapy. I suppose a couple of vitamins and Andrea Yates children would still be alive?

He's a freakin' actor! He's in the midst of an infatuation with a much younger woman. And, now we're supposed to take medical advice from him. Count me out.

He's a very good looking man, and does a decent job in his movie roles. He gets paid highly for it. And, his popularity gives him access to the media where he can espouse dang near anything. I only hope the general public continues to look at him and not listen to him.

Cheryl, I just read your article--seems we have similar opinions and references! I'm glad you made it through your depression.

I suspect I had a mild form--I remember one night I just sank into a very black mood that came from nowhere and it was really a dark and desolate place. It was scary. I then was depressed for a very long time and I, too, didn't seek medical help. I was able to function albeit at much lower than normal levels. If I'd gotten help, perhaps I wouldn't look at that as "lost time" when I was just going through the motions.

Cheryl,
Boy oh boy do you and I think alike when it comes to Mr. Cruise's statement!! I too went through post-partum after the birth of our twins and, I too, never went to my doctor for fear of being labeled "crazy." It took way too long to recover because I never went for help. My poor husband was overwhelmed but he helped tremendously as did my mother and stepmother, both of whom knew about post-partum depression firsthand.

Your article was right on target. Vitamins, indeed!!Give me a break, Tom!

By the way, a friend who is a social worker told me that there are women living in mental hospitals today who are from the '40's and '50's. They were labeled "mentally unstable and unable to care for children" after they had given birth.

They were suffering from postpartum depression but back then it was assumed that if you were depressed after the joyous occasion of giving birth there had to be something mentally wrong with you!! Sadly, these women have lived their entire lives in institutions because, after being admitted, they were given "therapy" drugs to cure their mental instability; the same kind of drugs that were given, by the way, to violent criminals.

Their minds are toast and some of these women, now in their seventies and eighties, are still there.

How sad!!

Thanks Deborah! I'm glad you shared your views. I found it interesting that we both thought of Andrea Yates. Yep, I feel pretty much the same way you do. I've lost all respect for the man and I'm sure not interested in seeing anymore of his movies.

When he grows ovaries, a uterus, a cervix and has a baby then deals with the reality of postpartum depression, then and only then should he comment. He's welcome to believe what wants, but in my opinion, when what he touts could do harm, he should put a sock in it!

He's also welcome to his beliefs on Ritalin but I really don't think I want to hear them from his religous point of view. I don't happen to believe in Ritalin either, but I don't think it makes a parent a "bad parent" for allowing their child to use it. It's an individual choice. Not Tom's choice for all!

Thank goodness he didn't share his views on menopause! I'll bet he thinks it's horrible for a woman to take HRT for the emotional relief it can have too. I've just had a full hysterectomy and I'm convinced I'd be nuts (full blown committed to the hospital) if it weren't for the meds.

I guess maybe I'm really sensitive to these kinds of issues. I think it's ridiculous for ANY man to try and tell women what to do/not do in relation to hormones, emotions, feelings and spirit in such a blanket manner.

I commend Brooke Sheilds handling of the whole thing so far. He also made negative remarks about her career in relation to the meds.

Kristen, it doesn't surprise that there are women still in hospitals from long ago. Back then, few women were MD's and postpartum depression was NOT talked about. That is sad! Thanks so much for posting!

[color:"blue"] [/color] This makes me sooooo angry! I spent three months in a psychiatric hosptial after the birth of my son. I was so depressed and even a little psychotic at times. Mr. Cruise may have even cost some women their lives by this irresponsible statement. Shame on you, Mr. Cruise!

Part of why I think Tom Cruise is wrong is that he does not seem to be seeing the difference between treatment and cure. My son developed insulin dependent diabetes when he was 7; he needs insulin to stay alive and be healthy. His childrenwithdiabetes.com bracelet says, "Insulin is not a cure" because we as parents are dedicated to research that *will* lead to a cure. Living with diabetes is treacherous, unhealthy and very often fatal. We also embrace the research that has led to the development of new insulins, blood test meters, and other technology that improves our children's quality of life.

Insulin is a treatment that keeps my son alive and as healthy as he can be. I could not condemn it because it is not a cure. I could not condemn it because sometimes it works too well and other times, not well enough.

I especially appreciate Brooke Shields talking about her situation and the support she found, because so many women with postpartum depression feel that they do not deserve to reach out for help because they have such fortunate lives and should be able to pull out of depression on their own. Exercise and perhaps vitamins might work for women who are having a bad hair day, but clinical depression changes the way a person perceives the world.

On August 4, 2003, a respected and gifted professor at Villanova University killed her infant daughter while suffering from postpartum depression that developed into postpartum psychosis. She took her own life a few days later. If only she had found a pharmaceutical treatment that could have helped her get through the most difficult times, with other support that she obviously needed but that we recognize too late!

I believe that Tom Cruise is generalizing from his own childhood, when I believe he was diagnosed with ADD, and his mother refused to consider medication for the condition. He's a very passionate and energetic person and seems to be charging down a path without regard to the consequences for himself or others. I hope his remarks do energize discussions on all the topics he introduces, and that many more people become aware of Brooke Shield's book because Tom Cruise has mentioned it.

He might have done more to advertise the prescription medications available for treatment for ADD by his discussion with Matt Lauer than all the drug companies combined, especially if mothers recognize the symptoms that their children share with him, and discover one of those medications does benefit their son and daughter.

Pam Wilson
Special Needs Children editor

I received Brooke's book for Mother's Day of all things. It was a wonderful book. At times, I cried because I could see myself in her words. The feeling of just wanting to leave and never come back is one that we share. I was lucky enough to have a mother-in-law that understands. She had those scary moments and we discuss them alot. It helps to know you are not alone. I can't believe the negative remarks I have heard from other women (here in town) about how bad Brooke is because she went on TV and talked about it. Or that she even had it. It is sad that women can't support each other in the most basic ways.

It makes me mad that Tom Cruise would say things that could hurt people. I guess if he had taken his meds like he was suppose to as a child, he would be something important instead of an actor. My son who started having seizures about 2 months ago is on 2 meds right now. Let him come down from his soap box and take care of a sick person and tell me who needs meds then. Just wait until someone kills a baby and then blames him for their actions. His children are both adopted, so he never had to deal with a wife that went through any of this stuff. I feel very sorry for Katie. She is headed for big trouble.

Sign a petition to "shut up tom cruise"! <img src="/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

Included here is a letter you can add if you would like!

Petition to Shut Up Tom Cruise


Dear Tom Cruise,
Depression is a real medical condition. Everyone has times when they're
feeling down. If you have depression, this sad mood along with other
symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years if not treated. Depression
isn't a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It's a real medical
condition, but there are ways to successfully treat depression. Depression
can affect anyone. More people suffer from depression than you might
think. Depression strikes people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic
groups. Depressive disorders affect about 34 million American adults.
Nearly twice as many women as men are affected by a depressive illness each
year. Find out detailed information about depression. Learn about the
symptoms and signs of depression, what could cause it, and how to treat
it. If you think you might have symptoms of depression, fill out a
checklist. Get the truth behind some myths about depression.

Seek help, it's out there!

Sincerely,

(Your Alias Name Here!)
imsickandtiredofyoushutthef**kupalready

I did not see the actual interview on The Today Show, since I am a GMA viewer, but I saw clips from it on MSNBC's Scarborough Country. Then they were discussing it on CNN's Headline News.

So if I followed it correctly first he was interviewed by Billy Bush for Access Hollywood and picked apart Brooke Shields.

Then a few weeks later (?) he was on The Today Show to promote his movie, but instead battled Matt Lauer on the medication discussion he had with Billy Bush.

Is that the gist of it?

I saw a snipet where he called Ritalin an anti-psychotic medication. That is incorrect, Ritalin is a stimulant. My son has been on anti-psychotic meds for two years. First it was Risperdal and has been a year or more on Geodon.

I am going to sign this petition too. I agree that it seems Tom Cruise has gone off the deep end and must be going through some mid-life crisis. I wonder if his fiance will have an opinion on this subject.

Anyone know if Brooke Shields has a website on this subject?