A man who lost his wife to suicide shared the “biggest sign” he missed in his final week.
In 2015, Brandy Zink from Boise, Idaho, tragically took her own life at the age of 34, and now her husband, Eric, has spoken out about the one change that occurred in her before her death that he wishes hadn’t been overlooked.
In a video shared on his TikTok account last month, Eric, 43, explained that there was a drastic change in his mood in the days leading up to his death by suicide.
He told his followers that she suddenly became “happy” after being “extremely depressed” for a while, and that while at the time he thought she was getting better, he now believed it was because she had made the “decision to end it all.”
“The biggest sign that I didn’t realize that my wife was going to commit suicide and take her own life was that she was happy,” he shared in the clip, which has been viewed more than 34,000 times.
A man who lost his wife to suicide shared the heartbreaking “biggest sign” he missed in her final week
In 2015, Idahoan Brandy Zink took her own life aged 34 and now her husband Eric has spoken openly about the one change that took place in her before her death. They are seen in 2010.
‘My wife went from being Brandy, an extremely depressed woman, to suddenly being happy, at peace with life and finding joy in life.’
He said he thought his unexpected “surge” of “enthusiasm” for life was a good sign.
“You think they’ve fallen asleep and gotten over their depression or something, but they’ve actually made the decision to end it all,” he continued.
‘That’s the fight against depression… We isolate ourselves so much that we feel broken, damaged, invisible.’
Eric ended his video with a message for anyone who may be “struggling.”
“For anyone going through a tough time right now, you’re an amazing human being, you’re a tough guy,” he said.
“You’ve overcome 100 percent of your worst days. I’m proud of you for being here right now.”
She also encouraged people to “reach out” to their loved ones if they need help.
“Believe me, you are loved and wanted here,” he concluded.
In a second video on the topic shared in April, Eric, who admitted he himself attempted suicide in 2018, explained that “everything changed” with Brandy “in the last week of her life” despite her not doing anything different.
“He didn’t go to therapy, he didn’t find a new therapist or do anything like that. He didn’t change his medication or stop drinking or smoking,” she revealed.
‘Nothing changed in her life, but suddenly she had a positive attitude, a plan, she was motivated.
“Everything was fine and I believed it. I thought, ‘My God, my wife is happy. This is the human being I’ve missed.'”
“The scariest thing is when you look back and realize that was literally the point where she gave up.
“They are happy and excited because they know the pain is going to end. It’s not like they’re curing the depression at all, they’ve let it get the better of them.”
The Idaho native, who has since remarried, is being outspoken about his wife’s passing online in hopes of ending the stigma surrounding mental illness.
While at the time he thought she was getting better, Eric (seen with his new wife) said he now believed it was because she had made the “decision to end it all.”
Many people took to the comments section of Eric’s video to thank him for his candor.
“I like to share my story so people know they are not alone and there is a light at the end of the deep, dark tunnel,” she said. Newsweek Magazine recently.
Eric explained to the publication that Brandy “struggled with childhood trauma” and “sexual assault and abuse for most of her life.”
“She was an alcoholic and had addiction problems. We had tried therapy several times, but she fell back into her old habits,” he added.
Many people took to the comments section of Eric’s videos to thank him for his candor.
“Please continue these videos. I’ve struggled with this daily for over 30 years,” one person wrote.
Another simply added: “I needed this.”
“As a therapist, this is the number one sign we are taught to look for: happiness and peace,” another person shared.
“I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for letting others know,” read a fourth comment.
A fifth said: “You are a great help to many people, I truly love you.”
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact Samaritans NYC at 212-673-3000 or Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386.
For confidential assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or click here.
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