“River of Time: My Descent Into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope”
With Marcia Wilkie
The title of this book speaks volumes. It gives you a glimpse into the life you are about to read, but it doesn’t prepare you for the deepest, darkest corners of depression and anxiety that existed for Naomi Judd.
Most people recognize her as one-half of the country music duo, The Judds, ranking as one of country music’s biggest stars, selling more than 20 million records and winning six GRAMMYs. Naomi struggled with the deep family secrets of her childhood, the loss of a brother at a very young age, and the lack of a loving family environment. She became pregnant at seventeen and reluctantly married a young man after her parents threw her from her home. She survived being beaten and raped while still providing for her two small children. Always the survivor.
After putting herself through nursing school, she moved to Nashville to pursue her dream of being a country music sensation – what a huge payoff that turned out to be. But then another impossible mountain rose to try to defeat her, Hepatitis C. Given a diagnosis of just three years to live, Naomi fought back and was miraculously healed five years later.
All of these stories of survival finally took its toll in 2011 when The Judds tour ended. It was here that Naomi’s world began to crumble. Her friends and fans would not recognize the woman who for three years would battle for her life with the demons of depression and anxiety. Suffering through doctors’ inability to successfully help her with medication while spiraling deeper each day into a black hole with no light in sight, her determination and the unconditional love of her husband motivated her to continue to fight for the right solution for her.
River of Time is Naomi Judd’s story of hope.
“Please join me in telling the truth about depression and anxiety to anyone who will listen. It’s a disease of the brain, part heredity, part environment, like heart disease. It’s not a character flaw.” – Naomi Judd
River of Time: My Descent Into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope was originally published in hardcover by Center Street (December 2016) and in paperback by First Trade (December 2017). Click here to purchase.