Sister Wives' Janelle Brown 'Had No Idea' Garrison Was Struggling Before His Death: 'Never Expected This' (Exclusive)

(L) Janelle Brown and Garrison Brown.Photo:janellebrown117/Instagram janellebrown117/Instagram WhenJanelle BrownandKody Brown’s sonGarrisondied suddenlyin March, she and the rest of the world were left in shock. “We just had no idea that he was in that place,” Janelle, 55, tells PEOPLE, adding that “substance abuse” likely played a role in his state of mind before his death. “But he didn’t ever express any kind of extreme sad feelings.” “In fact, he was very funny, very upbeat,” she adds.

Sister Wives' Janelle Says Meri Began Developing 'Interest Outside of the Family' After Becoming an Empty Nester

Meri Brown and Janelle Brown.Photo:Meri Brown/Instagram; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Meri Brown/Instagram; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Janelle Brownis opening up about the disconnect between her family andMeri Brown. “I do think when Leon left the house and she was an empty nester before we were, she started to develop a lot more interest outside of the family,” she continues, referring to Meri’s child Leon. “Because yeah, she had time.” Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Sister Wives' Kody Brown Opens Up About Complicated Relationship with Son Garrison Before His Death: Thought We Had 'More Time' (Exclusive)

(L-R) Kody Brown; Garrison Brown.Photo:Puddle Monkey Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock; Garrison Brown/Instagram Puddle Monkey Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock; Garrison Brown/Instagram Kody Brownis still living in the shock ofhis son Garrison’s sudden death. TheSister Wivesstar’s son was found dead after an apparent suicide on March 5, and Kody tells PEOPLE it “still feels like a shock.” “The hard part is giving away that future that I saw for him, the excitement,” Kody, 55, says. “It’s strange having your child pass.

Sister Wives' Kody Brown Wants Robyn to 'Move on' from the Plural Family 'Dream' He Sold Her: 'Never Meant to Be'

Puddle Monkey Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock “This isn’t what I envisioned my life to be,” she then said in a confessional. “I always wanted to live a plural marriage. I’m in this place where everything that’s going on is just, it’s taking away all those choices for me.” “I’m struggling with my identity and what does it mean and I don’t see my future anymore and the hopes and dreams that I had were just disappearing before my eyes,” she added.

Sister Wives' Kody Brown Wants to Reconcile with Janelle to 'Be Back in Graces' with Their Kids: It's a 'Power Game'

(L-R) Janelle Brown with her kids; Kody Brown on Sister Wives.Photo:TLC (2) TLC (2) JanelleandKody Brownare struggling to navigatelife after their separation. During the Nov. 3 episode ofSister Wives,Janelle and Kody sat down to discuss their relationship status and how they planned to handle their finances regarding the future of Coyote Pass. When Janelle suggested Kody buy her out, he wondered why she wasn’t considering living on the land with him.