Naomi Judd and the lies of Mental Illness!

 

     The pain and anguish in the voice of actress Ashley Judd will trigger the painful memories of many others who have faced the same tragic circumstance she and her family recently experienced. In a recent Good Morning America (GMA) interview, she described for the first time the shocking suicide of her mother, Country Music singer Naomi Judd. The unbearable pain radiated from her heart as she explained to the Host, Diane Sawyer, how her mother succumbed after a lifetime battle with mental illness. As a result, she, and her sister Country Music singer Wynonna Judd, have joined with countless others left behind to mourn as suicide survivors.     

     In the aftermath of suicide, the ones closest to the victim begin to contemplate why it occurred. With Naomi's success, her loved ones and fans are bewildered why someone who appeared to have a perfect life would have a reason even to feel depressed. The answer is complex; she had what her daughter Ashley described as a "savage disease, " leading to her tragic ending. As an advocate for all those who suffer in silence, Naomi chronicled her struggle with mental illness in her 2016 memoir, "River of time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope, " which opened the eyes of many with awareness to this invisible, misunderstood, and inevitably deadly disease.

     It is essential not to overlook Naomi Judd's courage in accepting her illness and fighting a battle against a persistent condition. However, once diagnosed, it is a disease with a life sentence of treatment and living with the constant fear of relapse and still having the resiliency to move forward after the symptoms return. Her election to the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with her daughter Wynonna, is a testament to how hard she fought to overcome her affliction. Sadly, her death took place just one day before her official induction.

     While describing her mother's plight, Ashley Judd spoke about the "Lies of the disease" and how depression talks to its intended target, overwhelming them with a barrage of negative sentiments that they are worthless and unloved. These negative beliefs lead to the classic good vs. evil conflict, to live with pain or the final solution of death to escape the suffering. This 'self-stigma' contributes to the emotional burden as harmful and destructive thoughts begin to control the victim's mind. When deeply depressed, one fear creates a dilemma: we wake up to face another day of hopeless pain and fight the relentless urge to end the suffering permanently.

     During a 2018 interview with Megyn Kelly, Naomi Judd disclosed some of the root causes of her depression. First, as a child, she was sexually molested; then, as a 22-year-old, she was raped. Though she achieved great professional success, these traumatic events alone put her brain health on a destructive path. Study after study has confirmed that those victims of sexual assault are at significant risk for long-term mental health challenges. According to one authorized by the 'National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center of the Medical University of South Carolina,' victims of sexual assault are three times as likely to suffer major depression.

     During this same interview, Naomi disclosed that she had 'treatment-resistant depression,' which led her to countless attempts to search psychopharmacology to find the correct remedy. She even resorted to Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT), commonly known as shock therapy, to find relief. Unfortunately, though all did bring some reprieve, none became the long-term solutions she pursued to stop her inner pain.     

     Whenever discussing the subject of mental illness, the stigma associated with it enters the spotlight. It is considered the four-letter word for these brain disorders; it is often the most significant obstacle one faces with a diagnosis and can be an overwhelming challenge to face. Unfortunately, many still view a diagnosis as a character flaw or simply a sign of weakness. Inadvertently, society tends to marginalize those afflicted by discussing from a macro point of view. Discussions often center around statistics such as one in five Americans suffering from one of these disorders or over fifty thousand Americans committing suicide every year. Still, others reduce the victims as a product of faulty neuroscience as they characterize the causes simply as neurotransmitters misfiring. Still, others claim the individuals are struggling with some inner demons, which is ample evidence that many do not grasp the biological nature of these afflictions. Tragically, the death of someone with high stature like Naomi Judd is a cold reminder that those suffering are people and often have struggled for a long time before they finally surrender to the symptoms.

     It was surprising that Ashley Judd revealed that her mother often lived in some isolation despite performing in front of tens of thousands of fans. One common trait among those with a brain condition is they tend to hide their affliction, often out of embarrassment. The best description comes from the late actor Robin Williams who ended his life at his own hands. His words can quickly become a metaphor for all of us, me included, who developed this invisible killer; "people do not fake mental illness; they fake feeling well!" For Naomi's adoring fans, she displayed great talent and a happy persona for the world to witness. But, like many similarly afflicted, her soul was dying a slow, agonizing death.

     As millions of us who struggle with mental illness can attest, depression puts the individual in a dark cellar of despair and hopelessness. It destroys self-worth and leaves the person at the mercy of its relentless symptoms.

     If her fans wish to honor her memory, I can't think of a better way than to take the time to understand mental illness, grasp that it is an actual illness, and remember all the love in the world cannot cure a biologically based disorder. However, all the understanding and emotional support can help one find a treatment that works, they can live a good life, and most importantly, they can overcome all the hazards in life. So always know that when a loved one is in crisis and suffering, three words can be the difference between death and recovery. "JUST BE THERE!"

     Rest in peace, Naomi Judd; your courage should be part of your legacy, and the world is better because of you!