Shut Up and Go Home, Tom Cruise

I was appalled when I saw Tom Cruise on Access Hollywood last night.  The show gave him a whole half hour to rant about what he thinks is wrong with the world: psychiatry and psychiatric medications.

Tom Cruise actually used his air time to berate parents who give their kids medication for ADD, and adults who take antidepressants.  He went so far as to call Brooke Shields "irresponsible" for publicizing her battle with postpartum depression and the medication that finally helped her recover.  He also claimed that there is no science behind psychiatry.

Tom Cruise is a misinformed and misguided individual.  He claimed that he cared about people and that was the fuel for his fire.  I'd like to know how spewing judgments against people with zero knowledge of their situations shows any level of "care."  Sounds more like self-indulgent, fascist crap to me. 

Surely medication is not for everyone.  And certainly there are medications out there that are over-prescribed.  But psychiatric medications save lives.  Depression, anxiety, and Attention Deficit Disorder do exist - there is science behind it.  Psychiatric medications help people get their brain chemicals balanced, so that they can live happy and productive lives.  I hate the fact that people out there may have seen Tom Cruise's rant and felt guilty about the medications they take. 

I always tell my clients: Medication is not for everyone, but at the very least the topic of medication is worth a good conversation with a great doctor. 

Since Tom Cruise has no problem making judgments of others, I'm going to be a hypocrite for just a minute and make my own judgments of him:

To Tom Cruise: No one believed your marriage to Nicole Kidman was authentic.  No one believed your relationship with Penelope Cruz was authentic.  And no one believes that your relationship with Katie Holmes is authentic.  Except, possibly, you.  How about you stop berating people for making their own informed decisions about their lives, and start taking a look at your own life.  Your proud authenticity is what would really help people out there who are confused and struggling in their lives.  (I'm sure many of you will read between the lines here.)

In short, Tom Cruise, shut up and go home. 

Comments

[Tara - ADD Coach]

I missed the interview on Access Hollwood. Jimmy Kimmal showed a clip from the interview on his show though. Tom Cruise really didn't make himself look good at all. He seemed like he was either high or having a manic episode.

Ok, he doesn't believe in medication or pschychiatry. That's his perrogative but with all the money this man has what is he doing to help people who are actually suffering with what ever he actually calls mental illness or conditions? Maybe if he was actually doing something positive I might actually have an ounce of respect for him.