Tom Cruises' take on Psychiatry

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2005

Tom goes from one starlet to the next...he was married to Mimi Rogers then has an affair with Nicole Kidman while on set....marries her...has an affair with Penelope Cruz while on set....she dumps him, then he falls for Katie Holmes while auditioning for one of his movies....Wonder what Scientology Theory that kind of behavior falls under?...Anyhoooo....Tom's the one that looked like a total nut with his Today show rant...it was unbelievable....

So what is wrong with going from one starlet to another

I dont see a problem there atall

I wonder why

TCASII, ADN · Jul 19, 2005

The Nazi party, now thats a harsh comparison. To me its more like the right wing, Republican and moral majority party

Why would you bring current political discussion into this? You think scientology is like the Republican party? :uhoh3:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

The other sites you mention is more neutral and it definitely show what scientologist believes. I personally don't really care what they believe. But I do care when they start to harrass people who disagree. Also unfortunately, people do listen to people like TC and guess out, doctors and nurses are the one who ended up treating people who listen to TC in the ER. Especially with mental illness, many families had gone through hell more than once and finally their love ones are stable with the right meds and can have a life. If they stop after listening to TC, the whole family will go through hell again and there is nothing they can do.
Now to be fair, scientologist are not the only one who does this. Antipsychiatry groups and certain extreme conservative Christian group and a few other religious groups also are quite anti-psychiatry. But the difference is that they don't go around bulling people legally and illegally.
-Dan

Actually Dan, there are Christian groups that bully people on many issues (legally and illegally), where they influence health care issues in ways that can harm health. Birth Control is a prime example. They also harass those that disagree with them. Many mainstream religions do. This is nothing unusual.

(What is 9/11 or London Bombings about anyway in the long term view?)

And it takes very little for the mentally ill to be noncompliant with meds. The "Influence" of scientology or Tom Cruise are pretty minor. Many people stop use of psych meds for myriad reasons....some Bipolar patients like being on Maniac swings because they like how they feel then. Tom Cruise is not at fault for that anymore than eating Twinkies causes someone to kill.

I personally find that the beliefs of TC and scientology ridiculous, but not to blame for many of the problems it is accused for. Much like blaming the other woman for an affair, neglecting that the spouse had to want to commit the adultery and is primarily at fault for the action that they undertook.

Also, remember that in many European countries, especially in Germany, Scientologists are treated with bias and ocasionally subjected to physical abuse, for their beliefs. If Christians were subjected to the treatment that is afforded Scientologists, there would be worldwide outrage.

As the sister of a bipolar with some paranoid schizophrenia (and had to help raise her child because she was not able), yes, my family has been hell when she goes off meds. But she goes off meds for any number of reasons - societal/side effects/cost/personal choice. It is her CHOICE to do so, and she cannot be compelled to do otherwise. TC/scientology would just be one more excuse.

GigLs2u · Jul 19, 2005

There are groups who call themselves Christians who do illegal things just like there are terroist in the Muslem faith. Anyone who can rationale illegal behavior is not a true believer no matter what his/her faith is. These people have to suffer from a psychopathology, brainwashing or pure stupidity.

The statement "Tom Cruise is not at fault for that anymore than eating Twinkies causes someone to kill" is not a valid comparison. TC can speak for one thing. Your reference to the mentally ill using his statement as "just another excuse" is valid and my position. Why give them another excuse? TC is not a physician and should keep his mouth shut regarding medications until he gets his M.D. Apparently, according to TC studying psychology make one more of any expert than physicians.

I find your statement "Much like blaming the other woman for an affair, neglecting that the spouse had to want to commit the adultery and is primarily at fault for the action that they undertook" outrageous. What happened to right and wrong with American morals? If someone is married then that person is OFF LIMITS! The spouse who is feeling neglected needs to communicate with his/her spouse or divorce that spouse. I agree with Mr. Billy Graham. Men should not put themselves in a place where they might compromise themselves. In adultery, I blame the married person for making this "choice".

In addition, your statement "If Christians were subjected to the treatment that is afforded Scientologists, there would be worldwide outrage" is an inaccurate generalization. To begin with the terroist who hate Christians would have a celebration. I don't know that scientologist have been murdered but I do know missionaries from my parent's church were and that never made the news. I have not seen scientologists treated negatively. In addition, I personally object to TC's egotistical public statements no matter what his religion.

Your statement "As the sister of a bipolar with some paranoid schizophrenia" is interesting because I have never seen that combination. I have even asked a psychiatrist about it. We had a patient come with that combination by history but according to the psychiatrist the patient was bipolar with parnoid ideations and bipolar with schziophrenia does not occur. I understand how difficult this mental illness must have been for you and your family and ask God to bless you.

I agree with your position of "CHOICE" because I tend to agree with the behaviorists theories. In biopolar people, you are right. They frequently go off their medications because they like the low grade mania stating they can accomplish more, sex is better, etc. Now, in their delusions god has spoken to them through TC telling them not to take their medications. In the psychiatric setting this is not a big leap. I have had patients tell me they have gotten messages from the tv on the unit.

Since working psychiatric intensive care I have softened my "choice" position from 100% to about 95% when it comes to mental health. I have seen patients who are getting the upper recommended doses of their medications still have break through hallucinations. I even came to understand there were some who would leave the hospital still having them but hopefully less frequent. It is all theory as to etiologies for these variations but likely related to metabolism and uptake of the drug. Who knows what other variables may be influence those patients who can not find peace in medication from their biopolar or schziophrenia symptoms?

joy

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

There are groups who call themselves Christians who do illegal things just like there are terroist in the Muslem faith. Anyone who can rationale illegal behavior is not a true believer no matter what his/her faith is. These people have to suffer from a psychopathology, brainwashing or pure stupidity.
The statement "Tom Cruise is not at fault for that anymore than eating Twinkies causes someone to kill" is not a valid comparison. TC can speak for one thing. Your reference to the mentally ill using his statement as "just another excuse" is valid and my position. Why give them another excuse? TC is not a physician and should keep his mouth shut regarding medications until he gets his M.D. Apparently, according to TC studying psychology make one more of any expert than physicians.
In addition, your statement "If Christians were subjected to the treatment that is afforded Scientologists, there would be worldwide outrage" is an inaccurate generalization.
Your statement "As the sister of a bipolar with some paranoid schizophrenia" is interesting because I have never seen that combination. I have even asked a psychiatrist about it. We had a patient come with that combination by history but according to the psychiatrist the patient was bipolar with parnoid ideations and bipolar with schziophrenia does not occur.

My point was to Dan, who as referenced, did not believe that religions, other than Scientology, was guilty of bullying, legally or illegally, those that do not agree with them. Obviously, many mainstream religions (including Christianity, Judaism and Islam) are guilty of this behavior and it does result in harm to others.

A mentally ill person may use TC as an excuse BUT IT IS STILL AN EXCUSE!!!! Unless you ban TVs, all forms of media and any contact with anyone, a mental ill person will still find an excuse if they want one as they have free will. A person that believes that their meds are working will stay on them regardless of what TC says. The patient's free will and attitudes are what is fault for noncompliance, barring being mentally incompetent. And, no, merely being mentally ill does not equal incompetence.

One can routinely hear about the deathes and mistreatment of Christians/Jews/Muslims on the several religious media (Radio, Cable, TV, Magazines, Internet services). Yet one rarely (if ever) hears about the murders and abuse of Scientologists, the widespread tortures and murders of Bahi, and the internment and torture/murder of the Falun Gong. And, yes, there have been cases of members of these groups murdered (in the case, of Bahi and Falun Gong, widespread torture and persecution). Since obviously, you were aware of the murder of Christian missionaries but not the harm of the others, that might tell you what get publicized and what doesn't.

As far as my sister's illness, well, we have plenty of documentation (some agreeing and some conflicting) from a number of different MDs in different states from the attempts to improve her mental health over the last 40 some odd years.

The point is that we should not demonize TC and Scientology for behaviors that many other media icons and mainstream religions are guilty of. Not unless we are willing to point out the faults in our own belief systems. Using TC/scientology as an excuse for doing the wrong thing is still AN EXCUSE (along with the "TV made me do it", the "Twinkies raised my bloodsugar and made me kill and rape", and the other woman "forced" me to love her)and does not put him at fault.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 19, 2005

Folks, until Tom pipes up again, we're going to let this discussion fade. If anyone wants to start a thread about the challenges of treating psych patients in the environment of societal/cultural influences and attitudes, please feel free.