River of Time, Naomi Judd
River of Time, Naomi Judd
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River of Time
My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope

Author: Naomi Judd, Marcia Wilkie

Narrator: Naomi Judd, Carolyn Cook

Unabridged: 9 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Center Street

Published: 12/06/2016


Synopsis


Naomi Judd's life as a country music superstar has been nonstop success. But offstage, she has battled incredible adversity. Struggling through a childhood of harsh family secrets, the death of a young sibling, and absent emotional support, Naomi found herself reluctantly married and an expectant mother at age seventeen. Four years later, she was a single mom of two, who survived being beaten and raped, and was abandoned without any financial support and nowhere to turn in Hollywood, CA.

Naomi has always been a survivor: She put herself through nursing school to support her young daughters, then took a courageous chance by moving to Nashville to pursue their fantastic dream of careers in country music. Her leap of faith paid off, and Naomi and her daughter Wynonna became The Judds, soon ranking with country music's biggest stars, selling more than 20 million records and winning six Grammys.

At the height of the singing duo's popularity, Naomi was given three years to live after being diagnosed with the previously incurable Hepatitis C. Miraculously, she overcame that too and was pronounced completely cured five years later.

But Naomi was still to face her most desperate fight yet. After finishing a tour with Wynonna in 2011, she began a three-year battle with Severe Treatment Resistant Depression and anxiety. She suffered through frustrating and dangerous roller-coaster effects with antidepressants and other drugs, often terrifying therapies and, at her absolute lowest points, thoughts of suicide. But Naomi persevered once again. RIVER OF TIME is her poignant message of hope to anyone whose life has been scarred by trauma.

About Naomi Judd

Naomi Judd, a country music superstar as well as one of the most admired women in the entertainment industry, has sold more than twenty million albums and won six Grammys and American Music awards. Author of the bestselling autobiography Love Can Build a Bridge, Naomi has also written two children's books and Naomi's Home Companion, a collection of recipes and kitchen-table wisdom. She lives with her husband outside of Nashville, Tennessee, on a farm that adjoins the homes of her daughter Wynonna and two grandkids, Elijah and Gracie, and daughter Ashley and her husband, Dario Franchitti.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lauren on May 15, 2022

Naomi Judd fought like hell to pave a path for herself and her daughters out of poverty, out of judgment, and out of trauma. She wrote in the book that "while she still struggles, she no longer suffers." A few weeks ago, I was struck by her performance with Wynonna at the CMA Awards of the song she......more

Goodreads review by Kerry on January 01, 2018

While it’s always useful to have narratives to help people understand depression and anxiety, this one is quite flawed. Ms Judd talks about her treatment resistant depression, but she does not follow through with treatments that are showing results. Her remarkable recovery with DBT leads to the ques......more

Goodreads review by Kristel on May 16, 2022

This book will stick with me for a long time. First, I want to say is Rest In Peace to Naomi. when I found out she passed, it hit me really hard because I grew up with her music. My mom would always play classic country when I was a child. Naomi’s mental illness got the best of her in the end, but sh......more

Goodreads review by Megan on May 19, 2022

I sit here struggling to form words that will somehow review Naomi's book on her real life struggles with depression and anxiety. She is so real, raw and completely vulnerable sharing her mental illness with us. I am just devastated knowing that she had somewhat found hope then this year committed s......more

Goodreads review by Lindaanne on January 12, 2017

Ms. Judd's description of her traumatic early life, repressed memories and later depression and anxiety were poignant, brave and honest. As a member of a dysfunctional family myself, this book was inspirational. The last chapter of the book was especially helpful as Ms. Judd generously shared her co......more


Quotes

"I've known Naomi Judd for 25 years as a woman of indomitable strength and courage. Now she has been brave enough to write about her very personal struggle with severe depression and anxiety. RIVER OF TIME brings a message of hope to the millions of Americans who suffer from emotional illness. I recommend it."

- Andrew Weil, M.D.

"In our family, my mother has a well-earned reputation for being thoughtful and caring. Even as a small girl, I'm told, she remembered every relative's birthday when most kids know (and are concerned with!) only their own.

This book is another iteration of her longing for connection and belonging. Our greatest need is to be known in our experience, to be witnessed and accepted as we are in this moment. In RIVER OF TIME she shares her journey through a harrowing tempest of treatment-resistant depression. Perhaps the details differ, but you may recognize yourself, or someone you love, in her battle. Depression is an epidemic in our country, a profound financial and emotional public health burden. The toll on us, the loved ones, must be addressed, too. As I watched Mom and Pop wade through the sucking mire of depression, I was deeply thankful that there was also help for us family members.

May this book serve you in the way my brave mother hopes it may."—Ashley Judd, humanitarian, writer, and actor