Tom Cruise's recent comments spawn a rash of debates in the world of blog

{The following post was in response to a post by Rob Long: "I Heart Scientology" on the Huffington Post.}

Yes, Ritalin is a dangerous drug (as is Adderall). But ADD can be a difficult disorder. Not all ADD drugs are like Ritalin. That is, not all ADD drugs are stimulants.

You know as little about mental illness as Tom Cruise. Clinical depression is not just a bad mood. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle are always good, but someone who is clinically depressed likely can't find the motivation needed to change their lifestyle. The lifestyle changes can only come after the depression is treated.

I've seen psychiatrists for the better part of 15 years and sex only came up once, when I hesitantly asked about hyper-sexuality. My psychiatrist wasn't anymore interested in discussing my sex life than I was. His response was, essentially, "Yes, you may be hyper-sexual". Trust me, hyper-sexuality really isn't that much fun.

Recommended reading - "Darkness Visible" by William Styron, or almost anything by Kay Redfield Jamison. And remember, your ignorance only increases our suffering.

Posted by: aethr at June 29, 2005 10:59 PM
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{The last sentence inspired me to respond.}

"your ignorance only increases our suffering."
aethr:
What a self limiting belief system you appear to have. Guilt trips have a tendency to lead to suffering - for the tripper and naive trippees.

Clinical depression is actually just an abstract label attached to a broad spectrum of behavior. Psychaitry is still in the womb. The fetus was conceived in Natzi concentration camps.

Question 1: Which organ regulates the limbic system, the cerebral cortex and the immune system? I don't think you'll find the answer anywhere in the DSMV.

Question 2: Can blaming others for your emotional state empower you?

Posted by: Mike Didj at June 30, 2005 03:52 AM
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{aethr responds irrationally to my queries.}

"Clinical depression is actually just an abstract label attached to a broad spectrum of behavior. Psychaitry is still in the womb. The fetus was conceived in Natzi concentration camps."

All psychiatric diagnoses are abstract labels attached to broad spectrums of behavior. Of course, these behaviors are generally abnormal and unhealthy.

"Question 1: Which organ regulates the limbic system, the cerebral cortex and the immune system? I don't think you'll find the answer anywhere in the DSMV."

The DSM doesn't discuss the relationships between internal organs. That's not its purpose. Do you even know what the DSM is for?

"Question 2: Can blaming others for your emotional state empower you?"

At no point did I blame others for my emotional state. Absurd statements about clinical depression (or other mental illnesses), like claiming that depression can be cured by exercise and a healthy diet, discourage people from getting the treatment they need. People who need treatment and don't get it continue to suffer. But even people who do get treatment face unnecessary difficulties from who people think, in their ignorance, that psychiatric treatment is just some sort of escape or indulgence. Advocating that ignorance, as you and Rob Long do, only continues to make living with mental illness more difficult than it needs to be.

I'm not sure if you just have trouble reading or can't think rationally.

Posted by: aethr at June 30, 2005 05:28 PM
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{My latest attempt to communicate:}

"And remember, your ignorance only increases our suffering."

This seems like a nice example of blame to me. I suggest you eat some blueberries, this can help you recover an obviously faltering memory. You could also reread your comment
before making such caustic and eroneous statements.

DSM is the diagnostic manual used by Amerikan Psychaitry to classify personality disorders. There's no mention of healthy human behavior. One interestiing bit of information is that many corporations meet the criteria for the sociopathic personality. These sociopathic corporations form the platforms and agendas that dictate the actions of our rogue/criminal government.

It seems to me that you have made up your mind and and are holding on to a lot of anger. I see no point in playing insult pong with you.

"I'm not sure if you just have trouble reading or can't think rationally."

This seems to be a classic example of projection. I do not mind being your mirror. Rational thinking is just one mode of processing information. 'You can't reason with a drunk.' :. You can't ______ with a rational thinker.

Suggested reading: The Psychopath's Bible by Dr. Christopher Hyatt.

Posted by: Mike Didj at July 1, 2005 05:52 AM