The Grief Warrior Project was founded after my beloved husband died of depression by suicide in October of 2016. The Project has been much slower getting off the ground than I had hoped, in large part because I was struggling with my grief, and could barely get out of my own way for nearly three years after his death. It’s only been in the past couple of months that I’ve begun to feel alive again.

The goal is create a drop-in center for people coping with suicidal thoughts, where they can feel safe and talk to trained supports, and find an advocate or case manager to help them navigate the mental health & insurance systems, while also engaging in productive or soothing activities, such as growing houseplants for sale, helping animal rescues socialize or foster dogs or other animals, repairing furniture or homes for seniors, or just listening to music. The drop-in center will also offer support groups for survivors of suicide loss. One day, this dream that is meant to honor my husband, will come true.

My Johnny was a true warrior, fighting demons no one else could see.  I thought he was the strongest man in the world, and perhaps he was, but tragically, the demons got the better of him.

The name of this project is in no way intended to be reflective of, or piggy back off, Wounded Warriors which serves those military personnel wounded after September 11, 2001.  Like too many others, John was a warrior long before then.

Fair winds and following seas, Husband.

**************************************

The Grief Warrior Project has its own website at https://warrior-project.org that was begun shortly after John’s death. The post have been inconsistent, but you can see how my thoughts and feelings were scattered, distraught, devastated, and well, pretty much all over the place. Suicide is a method of leaving this life that destroys the survivors like no other death.

We now have a group on Facebook to help find resources, support and ideas for getting The Grief Warrior Project off the ground.  You can find us there at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewarriorproject/

Follow us on Twitter!  @WarriorProjME.

You can help support The Grief Warrior Project by making purchases from Heritage Collectibles, Books & Maps, a small business originally founded to provide a focus for my husband, one that he could retire into. Sadly, he didn’t live long enough to see that day.  All profits from Heritage Collectibles (after expenses) go to helping us help others.  You can find Heritage Collectibles at  https://heritagecollectiblesmaine.com, on Facebook (both a group and a page) and on Twitter (@HeritageGifts).

Beginning in the early fall of 2019, you are now able to call in for grief support from Linda Snyder, M.S.  The fee is $40 per phone hour (50 minutes), payable in advance via PayPal (use LSnyder@heritagehealthservices.com as the Pay To email address) with times generally available as follows:

Mondays – Fridays, 4:00 am and 5:00 am EST
Wednesdays, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm EST
Fridays & Saturdays, 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm EST.

Talk to you soon!

**************************************

Footnote.

Despite decades of disbelief, I have come to realize that our loved ones are able to communicate with us across or through the life/death barrier (which many call “the veil”). 

My Johnny believed he could come back to me if he died; he has proved that he can, and does, in ways that I can’t attribute to my own mind making things up… there have been complex coincidences and synchronicities, extraordinary happenings, and messages through others who could not possibly have any knowledge of the information they’ve passed on.  It’s been truly mind-blowing stuff. 

I don’t have a clue what life after death is all about, but I know my husband loved me with everything he had, and that he still does.  Our wedding vows were “to death and beyond” and that has proved true for both of us.

I can’t tell you how it all works, or how you can get through to your own loved one, but if you’re interested, I can tell you of my experiences and my thoughts on this.