Thanks to Stacey for forwarding me the online link to Brooke Shield’s op ed piece in the New York Times on Friday. You’ll definitely want to check it out: AOL News – War of Words.
It’s extremely well written. Right on, Brooke! I have yet to review her book on this bog (hopefully next week – I’m working on it, I swear!), but I must say I appreciate her using her voice to support what the rest of us have been saying in obscurity. I believe that any remedy that works, whether exercise or homeopathic or pharmaceutical, is valuable. Why denounce publicly what has clearly helped so many, Mr. Cruise? I am living, breathing proof that an antidepressant and therapy worked wonders to eliminate what turned out to be the worst illness, mental or physical, I’ve ever experienced. The point is to get mothers and their children healthy and bonded as quickly as possible. Period.
Has Tom Cruise lost his mind? Or could he be taking drugs? LOL He needs to hang on to his career & the cult he belongs to. That is not a religion. Do they ever mention a higher power, maybe God. He better be careful before Hollywood realizes he is an over paid actor who is a mediocre talent. Since when do people study psychiatry without finishing high school?
I think it's kind of funny (not HA!HA! funny!) that Brooke is being blasted for taking antidepressants to help with her post-partum depression by a man who has never experienced it. Until Tom Cruise can go through it he has no place criticizing a woman whose body is hormonally (chemically) changing back to normal. Brooke has never said she is going to stay on them permanently.
I went through post-partum depression with my 4th child and thought I was going crazy. If my OB hadn't recognized what I was going through and put me on a low dose of an anitdepressant I might have done something horrible. I only needed to stay on it for a little over a year and was then fine.
Antidepressants should always be used only as a "temporary" measure not as a permanent medication. Yes, vitamins and exercise will help, but when you are in the midst of a hormonal change you can't even think straight, let alone concentrate on exercise! Once I was on my medication for about 3-4 weeks I was able to think clearly enough to start exercise and live! Nobody criticized Marie Osmond when she came out with her problem with post-partum depression and nobody should criticize Brooke Shields for hers. Neither one has done anything wrong and they've both handled themselves in an exemplary manner!
There have been women in the news that have killed their children! Would these stars that are criticizing like to read that a baby was killed or suicide was committed? Unless you've been through this type of depression no judgements should be made by anyone!
Religous views should always remain private and never forced on anyone! The rhetoric that is being spouted by Scientologists is "their" religous view and should not be forced on anyone!!
Most of what I've been hearing and reading is that these drugs shouldn't be used on our children and that there should be warnings for their use. Brooke is NOT a child and she hasn't been promoting children being on them! We should all be responsible and research and question doctors if they suggest our children be on any drug. I've had 2 of my children on anitdepressant and they were both on them temporarily. I had them go off of them after a time and did research as to what vitamins would help them better and they worked better for them. But the important thing is that they worked through the cruicial time first and adjusted then they were taken off of the antidepressant and put on the vitamins.
The key here is to do a little research and know what you're talking about before criticizing someone for what they are doing! Better yet, until asked, keep your opinions to yourself!!!!
I have taken my time responding to this one – that's because I do feel that the whole truth lies somewhere between. While women's experiences with a mood disorder have a biological link in most cases, it is also a fact that a lot of us were not helped by medicine. However, that said, without medicine to keep us as stable as possible, we would have possibly experienced even further complications. The search for answers lie somewhere in the middle and I wonder if the questions are even being asked. Example: The American Cancer Society does not include women of child-bearing age within their guidelines for thyroid testing. How can this be? And, the unfortunate thing is other professionals and organizations follow the ACS's recommendations! If change is to be seen for inclusion of thyroid testing for pregnant women and new mothers, it must start with the ACS. I have emailed them twice and still no answer. Please, storm the ACS National Office with letters and emails until our voices are heard! One voice cannot do it, but with thousands of voices – how can they not at least entertain the possibility of change?