PTSD Patrol: Are You A Passenger or Navigator?

PTSD Patrol: Participating in the journey

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
February 24, 2019

I have been unplugged for a few days to spend time with some very dear old friends of ours. Over the weekend we talked about old times and how our lives have changed since we were young.

My friend Ellen and I shared how much we have taken active places in the lives of our husbands and unwilling to settle for just being along for the ride. 

This morning I was wondering why so many younger family members are not taking an active part in the journey too. Then it occurred to me that maybe no one ever explained to them how much power they do have over everything.

Passenger Passive is just along for the ride and not paying attention to where they are going, or noticing how they got to where they were.

Passsenger: a person who is traveling in a vehicle but is not operating it or working as an employee in it.

Captain Cruel takes advantage of the vulnerability of the person they are with instead of helping them.

Navigator Knowing charts the way to get everyone to their destination as quickly and safely as possible.

Navigator :a person in a vehicle who decides on the direction in which the vehicle travels.

Point Man Partner acknowledges the needs of someone they care about and finds a way to make their journey a much happier trip.

So which one are you? If you are a family member, you are part of the journey and you can change the trip for everyone. 

Yes, without knowing it, you play a major role in all of this. You can make it worse for everyone or you can make it so much better.

While peer support is one of the best ways for recovering from PTSD, what Point Man International Ministries discovered is, family support works better than anything.

Point Man established Home Front groups because our role can, and should, change their lives for the better. The more we know, the more involved we are, the more healing can happen.

Are you tired of just being along for the ride?

This is from Paul Sluznis

Many of us had no idea where to go or who to talk to when we came home from our different conflicts. We had no clue we had PTSD or anxiety. Who thought they would still be clearing their own home 15 years after getting out of the military. I had no idea how to deal with any of these issues till my Bride found out about Point Man Ministries and I haven't looked back since.

I started out going to outpost meetings and after awhile found that everyone in the room, although some from different services, and conflicts had the same issues as I. In that room we shared our thoughts as well as our messed up feelings knowing that what was said in the room would never leave the room....

Many of us have lost long time friends while in the service and I have met many Veterans who never left our country and felt they didn't belong in the same room as a combat Veteran. We all served this great nation whether shot at or not you served and you have just as much of a right to be there as I do. No matter what your service, male or female, I urge you to seek us out and join us! Thank you for serving our great Nation and welcome home! Paul Sluznis (President of PMIM)

In 1982 our journey began for my husband and I. Along the way, there were a lot of bad times but once I knew what PTSD was doing to him, I understood it was happening to us!

When someone you care about is hurting, it can break your heart. When someone you love is hurting to the point they are pushing you away, thoughts smash into each other as you try to figure out what you did wrong to cause it. Not a great way to live. You'll never find the answer because it is not really about you. It is about whatever they survived and the shock that came afterwards.

Not understanding any of it causes them to fear tomorrow instead of hope for healing.

It is our job to get them to where they need to be and that begins with how much of an active part we are willing to play.

These videos are with Paul talking about what it was like for him before Point Man and after his wife found us. This is how you can become a "Point Man Partner" and make a difference.

And if you are a family member, this is how you become Navigator know which way to go!