Larry Strickland shed new light on his late wife Naomi Judd’s final months before she died by suicide in April, one day before she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
While reflecting on his late spouse’s passing, the 76-year-old gospel singer, who was married to Judd for 33 years, said she was seeing ‘several therapists’ and that ‘her energy level had gotten really low.’
‘It was a very chaotic, hectic, hectic time,’ the My Kitchen Rules star told People. ‘It was extremely hard.’
Tragic: Larry Strickland shed new light on his late wife Naomi Judd’s final months before she died by suicide in April, one day before she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
He continued: ‘She was getting really weak.’
Judd, who was 76 at the time of her death, previously said ‘nobody can understand’ anxiety and severe depression ‘unless’ they’ve been there.
‘Think of your very worst day of your whole life – someone passed away, you lost your job, you found out you were being betrayed, that your child had a rare disease – you can take all of those at once and put them together and that’s what depression feels like,’ the singer explained to People in 2016.
Silent struggle: While reflecting on his late spouse’s passing , the 76-year-old gospel singer, who was married to Judd for 32 years, said she was seeing ‘several therapists’ and that ‘her energy level had gotten really low’
‘It was a very chaotic, hectic, hectic time,’ the My Kitchen Rules star told People. ‘It was extremely hard’
In retrospect, Strickland wishes he had ‘been much softer on her’ if he had known had bad she was struggling.
‘I would’ve been gentler and more understanding instead of tired and exhausted because it was wearing me out, too,’ he said. ‘To know now that she was contemplating [suicide], I look back and just wish I had been holding her and comforting her instead of pushing her.’
Strickland continued: ‘I don’t know if that would’ve helped, but it certainly wouldn’t have hurt.’
Isolating: Judd, who was 76 at the time of her death, previously said ‘nobody can understand’ anxiety and severe depression ‘unless’ they’ve been there; seen in 2017
‘Think of your very worst day of your whole life – someone passed away, you lost your job, you found out you were being betrayed, that your child had a rare disease – you can take all of those at once and put them together and that’s what depression feels like,’ the singer explained to People in 2016
He remembered being focused on ‘trying to get her to eat,’ exercise and handling her medications.
‘I was trying every way I could,’ he said, even when it came to the expense of his own health.
‘For the past 13 years or more, I was with her 24/7,’ Strickland said. ‘I never left the house without Naomi knowing where I was going and when I would be back. As far as taking care of myself, I’m not sure that fits my situation. When you have a mate that has a mental illness, you walk that path with them.’
Breaking the stigma: Since his wife’s tragic death, he has begun working with with the National Association of Mental Illness; seen in 2016
Since his wife’s tragic death, he has begun working with with the National Association of Mental Illness.
He told readers: ‘I was consumed by what happened, and I want to do anything I can to help relieve any kind of hurting or suffering for others. I’m willing to do whatever I can to hopefully help anyone not go through what our family has.’
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available by dialing 988, texting ‘STRENGTH’ to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
