I've never been either a Tom Cruise nor a Brooke Shields fan. I am a fan, however, of being able to distinguish one's opinion from fact and keeping the difference straight.
The minute Tom Cruise starts pontificating on what he "knows" through "study" about psychiatry and anti-depressants, I start to get afraid, very afraid. Sort of how I felt when Bill Frist was diagnosing Terri Schiavo via a brief video clip.
There are actually sites cropping up now to track not only Tom Cruise's "lectures" on psychiatry, but also why he, himself, might benefit from a little psychological check-up.
The psychiatrist on Yahoo! Health Expert Blog on Depression and Anxiety also addresses this fairly succinctly.
His point: it can be dangerous to encourage a belief in conspiracy theories, vitamin supplements and mind over matter in all cases having to do with mental disorders and conditions.
Hey, am I sometimes afraid that we over-medicate..especially our children? Do I see people treat therapy as a lifetime maintenance program (and think that's kind of counter-productive) rather than a intervening course of goal-oriented medical treatment?
Sure.
But let's not confuse concern over some applications of medication and psychological treatment with a blanket dismissal, no, condemnation of all use of medication and psychological treatment.
Especially from someone who frankly, seems kinda nutty :)
Comments