Anyone else get caught up in this nonsense on the net or real life? Even people who are just anti-psych/med in general?? It drives me crazy.
On another forum people were discussing this TomKat (Tom Cruise) business and a couple mentioned the Scientology aspect. Well, I guess I can't avoid this issue, so I threw out a few comments about it. :chuckle Two people begin walking all over me about Tom's "religion" and what he and Katie Holmes do is their business. Fine by me, I was just pointing out the CoS issue. Then after a few exchanges they say "Scientology? I don't know anything about it" Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
She was claiming how it helped his dyslexia. Oh boy. Why do people argue about things they no nothing about?
Specializes in ER (new), Respitory/Med Surg floor.
My favorite line!
As for the Oprah show, I had the misfortune of catching the rebroadcast when my husband was traveling for work. It was disturbing, seemed like an act and after a while I just thought this guy was either high, drunk, or just plain putting on a show.
Run, Kate, run!
Speaking of Oprah who i do enjoy her show and speaking of people making judgments I remember I think it was mary kay laturno however you spell her name but regaurdless of that issue I guess mary was dx (i could have the person wrong here) with bipolar and oprah made comments stating she felt the dx was a made up thing to get sympathy for her. NOW maybe it was or she JUST meant in mary kay's case but her statements made it appear as if bipolar does not exhist..JEEPERS! She had to do another show on topic of bipolar b/c she got so many responses stating it is definitely there! Myself included having my entire mother's side of suicide, bipolar, ocd, schizophrenia (BAD)....jeeze!
Do you suffer from a mental illness? If you don't, I invite you to come try to live my life, live in my head, for a week without meds. Try to go to school, to work, to have friends, to leave your house, just to get out of bed every day without meds, and then you get to say that.
No I don't suffer from mental illness, but I had a child who attempted suicide twice due to paxil and subsequently went through a horrible withdrawal process. If the meds work for you great, but the "take a pill to be happy" that is now the norm is VERY scary. Yes, true mental illness can be helped with medication. Trying to medicate away life normal stresses is not treating mental illness. The fact that doctors are prescribing antidepressants like candy is scary, and the fact that the patient isn't made aware of side effects and withdrawal from ssri's is VERY scary.
You have to understand that it's not just psychiatry they're against. People with neurological disorders have been compromised or left for dead because of their Scientology brainwashing. The whole idea that psychiatric meds are somehow different than neurological meds sets me off big time! Why are ADs simply theory but anti-seizure meds aren't? How about PD drugs, or any drug for that matter? Is it because neuropsych meds are just so hard to study as some postulate or that the outcome of non-neuropsych meds produce a reversal in symptoms? It's all based on science, and to see people benefit from BP meds, neuro meds, or psych meds, it's all the same. These meds may be overprescribed, however, they do work for many people with serious and correct DXs. To point to theory as the major reason to avoid these medications, to me, just indicates that someone doesn't really understand that all science is really theory.
I absolutely don't agree with withholding proven meds. But in the case of ssri's the science is that if you increase the serotonin you cure the depression/anxiety. Any reputable psychiatrist will tell you that this is theory. You can't measure serotonin in a live human being. Serotonin is produced mainly in the gut, not in the brain. BP meds have a measureable outcome as well as insulin. There is NO measureable outcome with ssri's(this is a required step in proving any scientific theory). I'm not denying that some people improve on ssri's. But what I hate to see is the rampant overuse of these drugs without acknowledgement of side effects like increased suicidality in children and adults. These drugs are being misrepresented as safe and non habit forming. That is just blatantly not true.Brook Shields is the perfect example of what can happen if these drugs are not discontinued slowly. Her PPD quickly went to PP psychosis when she stopped taking them to quickly. I'm not here to argue the presence of mental illness. It absolutely exists and should be treated. But to hear todays psychiatrists you'd would think that everyone is mentally ill. I think this article puts it's all in perspective for me. This is a psychiatrist who has been practicing for 60 years.
Tom's children were adopted during his marriage to Nicole. A columnist in the UK (can't remember his name) said that Tom had no right discussing the matter as he had never been married to a woman who has given birth. Kind of catty but true. Nicole couldn't have had the hormonal swings associated with delivery.
But do you think he's gone off his ADD meds? This could account for his behaviours....
I absolutely don't agree with withholding proven meds. But in the case of ssri's the science is that if you increase the serotonin you cure the depression/anxiety. Any reputable psychiatrist will tell you that this is theory. You can't measure serotonin in a live human being. Serotonin is produced mainly in the gut, not in the brain. BP meds have a measureable outcome as well as insulin. There is NO measureable outcome with ssri's(this is a required step in proving any scientific theory). I'm not denying that some people improve on ssri's. But what I hate to see is the rampant overuse of these drugs without acknowledgement of side effects like increased suicidality in children and adults. These drugs are being misrepresented as safe and non habit forming. That is just blatantly not true.Brook Shields is the perfect example of what can happen if these drugs are not discontinued slowly. Her PPD quickly went to PP psychosis when she stopped taking them to quickly. I'm not here to argue the presence of mental illness. It absolutely exists and should be treated. But to hear todays psychiatrists you'd would think that everyone is mentally ill. I think this article puts it's all in perspective for me. This is a psychiatrist who has been practicing for 60 years.
Threre's not much you can tell me about neuropsych, especially the pharmacology of it. I know where 5-HT comes from, and it relation to levels in the gut versus places like the raphe nuclei. My point, however, was what about drugs used to treat PD, headache, seizure, dementia, MS, or even the use of anesthesia during operations. Look at most generals, and tell me what they say about how they work. The medical profession uses these everyday to put normals to sleep, yet they're not clearly understood, except for GABA theories. Science is a theory in most cases and not all BP meds works as you might think. Look at clonidine. Essential hypertension is sometimes impossible to treat and not all pts respond to the TX. Same can be said for a lot of meds, but unfortunately even health care workers cling to the stigma of mental illness society placed on it so many decades ago.
Tom Cruise is not exactly the prototype of an ethical individual. A man that cannot hold a marriage together (something he has failed at, twice) and chases after cute "young" things, obviously has serious issues and is quite immature. And he probably on the downswing of his career as Katie's star is rising.
That said, please do not tar and feather a religion (cult to some) because of the rude statements of one of their followers. Religion is religion and very sacred to an individual. Many Christian groups look down on people that use psych meds and consider it a sign of "weakness". There are groups that demonize those that have seizures - it is a sign of possession.
Karen Armstrong, the spiritual author, related her experience of being a Catholic novice (training to be a nun). She was lactose intolerant and required to eat cheese at many meals. resulting in illness after many meals. Her illness was viewed as a sign of "weakness of spirit".
I don't have to like the CoS. I don't believe in the CoS. But an adult has a right to believe as they wish, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Katie Holmes will make her choice accordingly. And she is an adult and is responsible for what she does with that belief.
Scientology is a cult. Period. It's not a religion. L. Ron Hubbard is acutually quoted as saying that at the fastest way to make money is to start 'a religion'.
As for psych meds, yes to some degree they are irresponsibly prescribed (i.e. do not receive therapy along side the meds). However, what cheeses me off is when ppl called them 'happy pills', to me that indicates a lack of understanding of what they really do for someone on them. By no means to they make you 'happy'! They make life tolerable for those experiencing severe anxiety or depression...
I agree with CaroLadyBelle. Tom Cruise should not have publicly confronted Brook Shields about the use of psych meds. However, he is only one member of the CoS, and we shouldn't stereotype all members. I do not believe in or support the teachings of the CoS, but we do live in a country that is founded on the principle of religious freedom. These people have a right to practice and believe what they wish, as long as they don't harm others.
I absolutely agree with caroladybelle; it is totally inappropriate to be badmouthing someone's choice of religion. What if this had been an anti-Catholic thread, or anti-Jewish, anti-Presbyterian, etc.?
I have had negative things said about my faith on this board, and I know caroladybelle has too. Speaking for myself, although I am somewhat used to it, it still hurts.
If you want to talk about Tom's bizarre behavior, that's one thing. But to denigrate someone's faith is a totally different matter. If you're so offended by Scientology, then I assume you won't see any of Tom's movies, since some of the money he makes from his movies goes to the Church of Scientology.
mysticalwaters1
350 Posts
Speaking of Oprah who i do enjoy her show and speaking of people making judgments I remember I think it was mary kay laturno however you spell her name but regaurdless of that issue I guess mary was dx (i could have the person wrong here) with bipolar and oprah made comments stating she felt the dx was a made up thing to get sympathy for her. NOW maybe it was or she JUST meant in mary kay's case but her statements made it appear as if bipolar does not exhist..JEEPERS! She had to do another show on topic of bipolar b/c she got so many responses stating it is definitely there! Myself included having my entire mother's side of suicide, bipolar, ocd, schizophrenia (BAD)....jeeze!