HomeBlogPatient“Out of Nowhere”: How Naomi Judd Struggled with Depression “Out of Nowhere”: How Naomi Judd Struggled with Depression February 5, 2018Patient Grammy award-winning country singer Naomi Judd recently revealed the extent of her struggle with depression on The Today Show: “I didn’t get off my couch for two years…I was so depressed that I couldn’t move.” The depression seemed to come “out of nowhere,” she said and completely “immobilized” her, even affecting time spent with family and friends. According to Judd, depression – in her case – was not about being happy or sad, it was a chemical imbalance: “We don’t make enough of the good neurochemicals in the brain. It’s a disease. It has nothing to do with our character.” However, researchers suggest the causes of depression might be more complex. According to neuroscientist Joseph Coyle, MD, of Harvard Medical School, quoted in National Public Radio’s blog: “Chemical imbalance is sort of last-century thinking. It’s much more complicated than that.” The chemical Coyle is referring to is serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that sends messages across your brain about your mood, appetite, and memory, according to Scientific American. Beginning in the 1980s, low levels of serotonin were believed to cause depression. However, according to Coyle: “What’s being looked at are processes that are much more fundamental than just serotonin levels. We need to move beyond serotonin.” Other Causes of Depression While experts continue to study what causes depression, the Mayo Clinic suggests other factors can lead to depression: Physical changes. A recent study of more than 3,000 people who reported symptoms “indicative of depression” by The University of Edinburgh found that physical changes in the brain could be associated with depression: “Alterations were found in parts of the brain known as white matter, which contains fibre tracts that enable brain cells to communicate with one another by electrical signals. White matter is a key component of the brain’s wiring and its disruption has been linked to problems with emotion processing and thinking skills.” Hormones. Pregnancy, thyroid problems, menopause and more can change the body’s balance of hormones, which can trigger depression. Inherited traits. People with blood relatives who have struggled with depression are often more susceptible. Additionally, other risk factors may put certain people at risk for depression. Some of these risk factors can include traumatic events, other mental health illnesses, alcoholism, chronic illness, and certain medications. Prolonged depression can lead to social isolation, anxiety, suicidal feelings, physical illness and more, which can further complicate the mental illness. When to Seek Help Naomi Judd’s story – and other personal accounts shared by celebrities – are significant steps in reducing stigma surrounding mental illness. Knowing that there are several different factors that can cause depression is another step forward in having new conversations about mental illness. Contacting your healthcare provider is a great first step. If you aren’t sure how to approach your healthcare provider, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness for tips to consider when reaching out. Judd herself encouraged Today Show viewers not to ignore signs of depression: “One of the things that happens with depression is throughout my life I’ve had a lot of tragedies…and you just keep squelching it down, you just keep suppressing it and all of a sudden one day if you don’t deal with it, it starts coming out sideways.” Postscript: The family of Naomi Judd announced her passing on April 30, 2022, and attributed it to mental illness. We send our deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved her. If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available 24/7 at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? 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Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more
Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... Read more
Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more