The cure has been found! And by actor Tom Cruise, no less. Tom tells us that all we need to get through postpartum mood disorders is vitamins – see here for the story from the New York Daily News. Well I’ll be! If only I had known.
"These [antidepressant] drugs are dangerous. I have actually helped people come off," Cruise maintains to Bush. "When you talk about postpartum, you can take people today, women, and what you do is you use vitamins. There is a hormonal thing that is going on, scientifically, you can prove that. But when you talk about emotional, chemical imbalances in people, there is no science behind that. You can use vitamins to help a woman through those things."
I realize, of course, that people are entitled to their opinions. And I try to respect that certain religions approach illnesses and medical treatment differently. However, I shudder to think that Mr. Cruise’s comments could lead women to avoid taking prescriptions that may be necessary for recovery, as prescribed by doctors and psychiatrists experienced in treating postpartum mood disorders. Not every woman needs anti-depressant drugs. I did. And if I hadn’t taken them, I can’t begin to imagine where I’d be right now. In fact, I might not be here at all.
Additionally, shame on him for criticizing Brooke Shields publicly. She bared all to share her experience with other women and deserves the utmost in respect for that.
If you’d like to share your feelings with Tom, you can send a letter to him care of his agents at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Kevin Huvane and Rick Nicita:
CAA
9830 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-1825
Brooke had a great comeback statement for him – I can't find the exact quote, but it was something like "Tom should stick to saving the world from aliens."
Scientology, like any other cult religion, sacrifices many lives because of its staunch anti-medicine beliefs. It's so sad…
Checking The Validity of Medical Claims
Persons who use the Internet are likely to encounter various claims about medical topics. Indeed, the Internet is a powerful and useful tool for obtaining medical information. Probably anyone reading this knows, though, that there is a lot of utter…
I find it very ironic that one of Oprah's first guests after airing the Brooke Shield's show was none other than Tom Cruise. Furthermore, to ask her favorite person what he thought about Brooke and her postpartum experience seemed a bit out of character for Oprah, but maybe not. I was not the only one that saw the looks exchanged between Oprah and Brooke during the hour-long show that show cased horrible thoughts that mothers sometimes get as a result of postpartum depression. With that said, just what was Oprah trying to accomplish by asking her initial question to Cruise regarding Brooke; was she in fact trying to take away from potential good that came as a result of Brooke sharing her gut-wrenching story? I believe Brooke is quite right in her rebuttal to Cruise – stick with what you know and keep out of areas that as a man you would not understand in a million years! By the way, chemical imbalances are found in both the male and female species; using the term "hormonal" does not refer to women only. Oprah should have known better than to ask such a question of a non-professional. In doing so, Oprah was not being professional nor understanding of Brooke Shields or the other 400,000 plus women who share the same views, and feelings on PPD. Along with writing Cruise, I hope others also write Oprah with a letter of repremand.
Just being a woman does not make depression
I am one of the minority that DIDN'T get better with traditional medication but I would NEVER condemn ANYONE who did find relief with them. We need to stick together as women and not take sides with one another. I have met many people who say that antidepressants saved their lives. Just because, after spending 10 months with SEVERE PPD, while on several medications and no relief was my experience, how dare I condemn someone who did find relief. Tom Cruise crossed the lines of good taste and revealed how "cultish" Scientology really is.
It's unfortunate celebrities speak out on subjects they have no business discussing and yet their celebrity gives them credibility and influence.
You have a terrific blog here. Keep up the great work! Thought you might be interested in this research from Fit Pregnancy:
Walk Away From The Baby Blues
"A woman with postpartum depression may find relief if she pushes her baby in a stroller accompanied by other moms and infants.
Australian researchers found that among new moms who'd been diagnosed with depression, those who completed a 12-week stroller-walking class showed fewer symptoms than those in a mom baby play group that didn't involve exercise.
The scientists concluded that gaining fitness through the sociability of stroller walking may be a more effective treatment for depression than joining a sedentary new-mother support group. For stroller-walking classes in your area visit strollerfit.com…"
– Amanda Vogel, International Journal of Nursing Practice
Tom Cruise accuses matt Lauer of being irresponsible? What Cruise did on the Today show this morning, with an audience of millions, was the most irresonsilbe thing I have EVER seen on TV! Cruise does not have the credientials, training, credibility to be speakng about mental health issues! How damagig tht could have been to mllions of viewers who suffer in that way. Ton Cruise, YOU are irresponsilble (and rude and mouthy!)
Tom Cruise's comments have made me so angry! Let's not forget that his "talent" is memorizing words that other people have written and then using those words to pretend that he is someone else — and that is it! Even his blather about Scientology sounds like he is repeating other people's words and ideas. Clearly, any time this guy tries to speak without a script — like he did on the Today show and Oprah — he comes across as the self absorbed, know-it-all, odd-ball, that he really is. Anything that this man says that is unscripted isn't worth hearing. I pitty his current squeeze if she finds herself pregnant and has to struggle with post-partum depression. In fact, if all she has to deal with such a problem is vitamins and exercise, I would seriously recommend that she either be under 24 hour watch and/or that someone take her child away from her until she is completely better — because she and that child may be at great risk of being harmed.
I know I am preaching to the choir, but as someone who has been through post-partum depression — I take it very seriously. Because I tried to "get through it" without medications, despite my doctor's recommendations, the first 3 months of my son's life were the worst days of my life — just getting out of bed was a struggle. Most days I didn't even get dressed until minutes before my husband arrived home from work. I thought about killing myself and killing my baby. Antidepressents made a dramatic difference in my life and I would urge any women suffering from post-partum depression to consider them for the welfare of herself and her child.
Don't know where I've been, but I didn't hear about the Cruise fiasco until last night. I am so angry!! I believe that everyone has the right to an opinion and that everyone has the right to share that opinion…but no one has the right to say that their opinion is a fact and criticize someone else for making informed decisions about their life and for sharing their story. I am sick to death of celebrities using their fame to influence their fans about serious issues that are personal.
After watching his bizarre behavior on Oprah and seeing a clip of the interview with Lauer, I think that he's either on drugs or needs to be on psychiatric medication!
I don't think I've ever participated in a boycott, but I will not pay to see another Tom Cruise movie. The only way to get him to see that he is not God and help him understand humility and compassion is to take away some of his power. I know that I'm only one person, and he won't feel the effects from me, but I'll feel better about myself.
We take one step forward in enlightening the public about mental illness, then three steps back with stunts like these.
I pray that Cruise never has to experience a love one going through PPD.
I was so glad to find this site. In addition to being glad to find more info. on PPD, I am glad to find a place to vent my rage at Tom Cruise. What an ignoramus?! – that is putting it nicely! As a licensed therapist in Atlanta and someone who works w/ mood disorders on a daily basis and has a family history of mood disorders, I am disgusted at his very ignorant and irresponsible comments. He has accomplished 3 things: showing Americans just how much a cult Scientology really is, showing how self-absorbed and narcissistic he is, and created an impetus for more people to learn about PPD – yeah for the last one! I didn't see the Oprah show w/ him, but if she was giving Brooked demeaning or judging looks during her interview and then intentionally asking Cruise ?'s that she knew would get him to berate Brooke Shields, shame on Oprah. The intrusive and frightening thoughts are common w/ depression and anxiety and the last thing that needs to happen is for public figures such as Cruise and Oprah to make those who experience such thoughts feel even more abnormal than they already feel. Experts in this field know that helping these patients normalized and accept such symptoms while seeking appropriate treatment, which may include pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, is the best way to help. All I can say is Poor Katie Holmes. I hope her foundation in a non-cult religion and her apparent good judgement before Cruise will help her to escape!
I was very happy to stumble across this forum! I suffered from PPD and Paxil helped me through-Thank goodness there is medication safe for breastfeeding-as I feed my son up to his 1st birthday! I have recently weaned myself and am doing great. It angers me that it seems Oprah could not attempt to understand Brooke's horrible experience. Rather, she seemed to judge Brooke. Oprah has never and probably never will experience the miracle of childbirth followed by the nightmare of PPD, and should listen and stand behind those that have experienced it over pompous actors who think their hip little religion knows best.