So There's No Such Thing as Mental Illness Mr. Cruise?

Scientology advice leads to death

Published on March 23, 2006 By JillUser In Current Events

I think we are all familiar with Tom Cruise's advice to Brooke Shields regarding post partum depression. Apparantly scientologists believe that psychiatry is a plot by aliens to control our minds with drugs. Mr. Cruise has declared himself an expert on the subject. I personally believe he himself is insane.

Well, apparently a counselor of the church and her scientologist son took the advice to heart and treated the son's psychosis with vitamins and exercise rather than seeking psychiatric treatment. The son in turn stabbed his mom to death. Seems the vitamins didn't help his alleged mental illness but perhaps gave him plenty of strength for stabbing away at his imagined demons.

I will be interested to see if Mr. Cruise has any comment on the matter (he doesn't thus far). I personally will avoid taking advice from any group who believes we are being controlled (or attemptime to be) by aliens. Strangely I have heard Mr. Cruise state that he won't believe in aliens until he sees one for himself. For someone who makes everyone he works with tour his church, he doesn't seem to have a firm grip on his religion's foundation. Or maybe he does and tries to make it more palatable to the masses. He is an actor after all so who knows what is going on in the mind of the real Mr. Cruise.

Comments (Page 1)

AngelaMarie88

on Mar 23, 2006

Hmm...I think everyone is different. I think mental illness is over-diagnosed (as are the medications for it), and Tom Cruise made a valid point that much mental illness could be treated through diet and exercise. Others however do benefit from psychiatric drugs. Tom Cruise made some valid points but he was way too general. There is no blanket solution for everyone who suffers from mental illness.

I really don't know much about scientology other than it's a matter-of-fact way of looking at life. As far as aliens go... I doubt that's a foundation of scientology apart from some of the weirdos who might believe it. After all, there are weirdoes in every religion.

Sounds like this kid who stabbed his mom could have benefitted from the world of psychiatry. It's easy to see what went wrong in retrospect, but his mom was probably trying to do the best for him that she knew. It seems she learned the hard way that she chose the wrong course of treatment for her son!!

JillUser

on Mar 23, 2006

I really don't know much about scientology other than it's a matter-of-fact way of looking at life. As far as aliens go... I doubt that's a foundation of scientology apart from some of the weirdos who might believe it.

Nope, you know nothing about scientology then. Have you ever even read anything about its founder, L. Ron Hubbard? And you are also wrong about Tom. He had absolutely no right and no validity in telling Brook Shields that it is irresponsible to take drugs for post partum. It has been proven to be irresponsible to not treat psychiatric problems- Andrea Yates and this guy stabbing his mom are very good examples.

I also find the exuse "she just did what she thought was best" as deplorable. I have no use for religions that will prevent people from getting life saving treatments that are proven to work because of something they "believe". I simply can't believe anyone would defend this!

AngelaMarie88

on Mar 23, 2006

You're obviously very emotional about this, as I was just trying to see both sides. So I'll beg out now as I have no interest in scientology, murderers or aliens, so I'll just go back to my life now.

Dr Guy

on Mar 23, 2006

Have you ever even read anything about its founder, L. Ron Hubbard?

I read Battlefield Earth. It was not a bad book (but as he acknowledges, is pure sciencefiction, and not about Scientology).

bakerstreet

on Mar 23, 2006

i recently posted some resources for reading up on the Church of Scientology. They are a powerful group, so there's no telling how many members have been harmed by their policy on mental health.

SanChonino

on Mar 23, 2006

"I also find the exuse "she just did what she thought was best" as deplorable. I have no use for religions that will prevent people from getting life saving treatments that are proven to work because of something they "believe". I simply can't believe anyone would defend this!"

Thank you, Jill. Good point. Cruise has no place telling people what to do or what not to do with their lives. Encourage, yes. Advise, yes. Tell or demand or belittle? Get a life, Mr. Cruise. You're not as important as your bank account size makes you think that you are.

From a believer: What if God (or whatever you may believe in) inspired doctors and scientists to create and diagnose these problems so as to protect and serve mankind? Would that be beyond the range of an all-powerful being? Of course not! I can't put up with groups that think that these life saving treatments are from the devil. Welcome to the 21st century, everyone. Let's leave medieval ideas behind us.

JillUser

on Mar 23, 2006

Here's an informative site regarding L. Ron Hubbard and the basis of his "religion"

http://www.mystae.com/streams/gnosis/hubbard.html.

JillUser

on Mar 23, 2006

You're obviously very emotional about this, as I was just trying to see both sides

Yes, I do get emotional about people influencing others in dangerous ways. Sad to say, but I am just thankful it was his own family or fellow scientologist that suffered as a result.

You say you were trying to see both sides but what you did was defend one side without knowing anything about it. I am all for seeing both sides but that is not what you were doing. You were making uneducated excuses.

I don't think you are a bad person AM. Matter of fact, you sound like a compassionate, empathetic person. But I am just trying to point out that you should arm yourself with information before defending any stance.

They are a powerful group, so there's no telling how many members have been harmed by their policy on mental health.

That is my fear too Baker.

JillUser

on Mar 23, 2006

What if God (or whatever you may believe in) inspired doctors and scientists to create and diagnose these problems so as to protect and serve mankind?

Excellent point! I do agree that some psychiatric drugs are being abused. I believe kids are wrongly being diagnosed with ADD and drugged because their parents and teachers don't want to deal with a "difficult child". In my day, instead of ridilan, those kids would just get a smack with a ruler. I'm not saying there aren't cases that can't be treated with forms of discipline. I, unlike Mr. Cruise, have seen people who battle with mental illness, bi-polar disorder, severe depression. These are very real afflictions.

I was a sceptic of chemical imbalance myself until I got pregnant for the first time. I was never one of those hormonal people. I was blessed with a pretty stable chemical balance. When I got the "blues" when I had my first son, it really opened my eyes to the power of the chemicals in our brains. For the first time I felt irrational and out of control. I was still taking prenatal vitamins so it wasn't a lack of nutrition. It was a very real imbalance. Mine wasn't even full blown post partum!

I guess my experiences in life and the apparent empathy that I have and Mr. Cruise does not, are what make me so passionately opposed to the message he is trying to spew. I also resent his using his celebrity to advertise his beliefs. He is an ACTOR, not a DOCTOR or SCIENTIST. Do not believe what he is saying!!

bakerstreet

on Mar 23, 2006

I'm not usually the one in a crowd that blasts 'illogical' religious beliefs, but I don't see this any different than the Christian Science movement who espouse prayer and the rejection of medical treatment. They call it "the false reality of illness" much in the same way Tom Cruise is doing in terms of psychology.

Having an illness that robs me of a few santity-necessary nutrients, I find his perspective sick. All that stands between the average person and mental illness is a vitamin deficiency.

Tova7

on Mar 23, 2006

Tom Cruise isn't someone I'd leave alone in a room with my child. He is too weird, and frankly if I were Katie Holmes (is that her name?) parents, I'd be very very scared.

I'd kidnap her and have her deprogrammed or something. Won't it be ironic if she goes through serious post partum and has to be medicated to keep from harming herself or her baby? Maybe Tom will get a first hand account and see the light.

As for now, I can't even see a movie with him in it because he so weirds me out.

bakerstreet

on Mar 23, 2006

P.S. Isn't this opening up scientology to the same accusations of child abuse that Christian Science believers have to deal with? What if a child of a Scientologist NEEDS mental help? With their unended legal war chest, how will they combat such accusations?

JillUser

on Mar 23, 2006

I don't see this any different than the Christian Science movement who espouse prayer and the rejection of medical treatment

That is exactly what I was getting at!

. Isn't this opening up scientology to the same accusations of child abuse that Christian Science believers have to deal with?

I would certainly think so.

Won't it be ironic if she goes through serious post partum and has to be medicated to keep from harming herself or her baby?

I'm sure Tom will keep any problems that Katie might have hushed to his best abilities. I think Katie is in for quite an education.

Tova7

on Mar 23, 2006

I'm sure Tom will keep any problems that Katie might have hushed to his best abilities. I think Katie is in for quite an education.

Yeah and I think it is going to be bizarre and twisted. Hopefully she has parents who aren't awed by Tom and will help her when she decides things are too weird and wants out.

I think there is something about having a baby that changes women. Not only into moms, but we put our kids first usually, and Tom probably isn't gonna like it. I'd be willing to bet a baby will be exactly what makes Katie see things for the weirdness they are....and run for the hills.

Well at least I can hope.LOL

BlueDev

on Mar 23, 2006

I think mental illness is over-diagnosed

Well, working in the health field, I am of the firm belief that mental illness is grossly UNDER-diangosed. I believe we overmedicate those we diagnose, but really need to be more sensitive when it comes to the actual diagnosis.

On the subject at hand, it probably shouldn't be much of a surprise to hear me state that I firmly believe in getting medical treatment. It isn't perfect, but I am staking my livelihood and professional happiness on the belief that medical intervention is worth-while, positive, and benefits humanity.

I have no problem with people making decisions for themselves to not seek medical treatment, but the second you deny a child from potentially life-preserving treatment, you had better get out of my way.

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