What is your reason to fight?

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 5, 2021

What is your reason to fight for something? Are you willing to fight for a cause you believe in? How much do you believe in it? Do you give it all of your free time or do you just do it once in a while? Are you invested in the cause enough to learn everything you can about it? Does that include what others have done, what they did that worked along with what didn't work they knew enough to drop?

The thing is, when you have a reason to fight for something, then you do give it everything you have. All the time you have to spare is committed to it. How about you decide to be committed to fighting for yourself? Aren't you worth fighting for?

There are PTSD advocates fighting for other people to get help, but they never fought for themselves. It isn't that they don't care about other people. It is more about them being the type of person everyone goes to for help, that prevents them from asking for it from themselves. It is almost as if they admit they need help, it will make them look weaker in the eyes of everyone else.

There are PTSD advocates who are fighting, not just because they care, but because they also had the same pain in their lives. The best advocates are those who have all that in their lives, but also know what it is like to need help, ask for it, and receive it. Then they can honestly share their lives with those they are trying to help. They are an example of what is possible to those who feel as lost as they did before.

I am in that category. The reason why people like me do it is because we remember what life was like when we were just suffering. We remember what it was like when we were healing and someone helped us do it. The biggest blessing comes is when we healed and helped others get through the hell so they could be happier. Watching them pass on that healing, being an example of not being afraid to ask for help, is a gift beyond words. We know it does not stop with them, but moves on from them and spreads out. We will never know how many lives changed because we did. I hope those who helped me so long ago know that too because even I do not know how many lives changed because they helped me first!

This is why the featured video today is Disturbed, A Reason To Fight.

Don't let it take your soul

Look at me take control

When knowing to fight this war

This is nothing worth dying for

Are you ready to begin?

Are you ready to begin? Do you finally believe you are worth fighting for too? Then become the example of what you want others to do by doing it for yourself.

Remember, it is your life...get in and drive it!

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

A Reason to Fight

Disturbed

The image in your eyes

Reflecting the pain that has taken you

I hear it in your voice, so ridden with shame

From what's hailing you

I won't give up so don't give in

You've fallen down but you can rise again

So don't give up

When the demon that's inside you is ready to begin

And it feels like it's a battle that you will never win

When you're aching for the fire and begging for your sin

When there's nothing left inside, there's still a reason to fight

Lost in your world of lies

I find it so hard to believe in you

Can it be real this time?

Or just a part of this game that we're playing through

I won't give up so don't give in

You've fallen down but you will rise again

I won't give up

When the demon that's inside you is ready to begin

And it feels like it's a battle that you will never win

When you're aching for the fire and begging for your sin

When there's nothing left inside, there's still a reason to fight

Don't let it take your soul

Look at me take control

When knowing to fight this war

This is nothing worth dying for

Are you ready to begin?

This is a battle that we are gonna win

When you're aching for the fire and begging for your sin

When there's nothing left inside, there's still a reason

When the demon that's inside you is ready to begin

And it feels like it's a battle that you will never win

When you're aching for the fire and begging for your sin

When there's nothing left inside, there's still a reason to fight

I'll be your reason to fight

Give you a reason to fight

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dan J Donegan / David Michael Draiman / Kevin Gregory Churko / Michael Wengren

A Reason to Fight lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Yes, I have faith in you that you will ask for help because you have invested too much of your heart in getting others to do it. #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD
Bonus video from Disturbed If I Ever Lose My Faith

This is Mental Health Awareness Month. When it comes to PTSD, it was because Vietnam veterans fought for all the reseach and funding on what trauma does. If you are a veteran...consider what you have to fight for, after you fought for those you served with.

Even if nobody else sings along

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
March 5, 2021 

I've been singing the same tune for almost 4 decades. The beat changes as the mood changes, but the message has not changed. Same message even though too many did not sing along with me. Sorry but I refused to sell out a long time ago, even though joining the groups more interested in raising money would have made it easier on me, it wouldn't have been easier on my soul.

One of the groups who are all about raising suicide awareness contacted me to promote their business. Yes, their "business" as if making money is all that matters to them. Actually that is what they have been all about. Changing the conversation from the doom and gloom has not happened and this is the result. This is from Tampa Bay Times.

The VA noted that data continue to show 132 Americans, including 20 service members and veterans, die on average each day by suicide. And (former) VA Secretary Robert Wilkie stated: “Just as there is no single cause of suicide, no single organization can end veteran suicide alone. 

That is the result of letting people know they are killing themselves. If you Google "suicide awareness" you end up with over 9 million results and most of them are tied to veterans. What about the other Americans who also need help? We've seen that suicide awareness does not work for currently military members any more than it works for veterans. How could anyone ever think it would work on anyone? It can't and it won't but after decades of pretending it will make a difference to anyone, they continue to sing the same tone deaf tune!

I needed something to make myself feel better this morning and then as I started to search for a music video, the incredible voice of Cass Elliot popped into my head. I found the video and as I listened to it, especially the part where she sings, "You're gonna be nowhere,The loneliest kind of lonely,It may be rough going,Just to do your thing is the hardest thing to do, But you gotta make your own kind of music" I felt a lot better.

If you are doing this work for the right reasons and the right way, you are probably lonely too. There is nothing glamorous about it and will not make you wealthy but it does fill your soul. Doing the right thing for the right reasons is never easy especially when you know you can change their world for the better.

When I read a suicide report, or hear about someone who never found what they needed to heal, my confidence gets shattered. I knew I could have made a difference but when I was not given the chance, it makes me depressed. I keep wondering how much more can I do so they find me? How do I compete with people making money off their heartache so they have the ability to reach more and get more money while more are killing themselves?

Yes, I was ripping myself apart until this song got me to stop and think about how it isn't my problem they are getting the attention. One day they will have to answer for what harm they have actually done. All I can do is do my best to get the message out there and help them know they can heal. To understand a happier life is waiting for them if they want it.

So, today this featured video is for us...the ones who are dedicated to changing the conversation from doom and gloom to #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD because they can!

Remember, it is your life...get in and drive it!

Make Your Own Kind Of Music 

Cass Elliot, also known as Mama Cass

Nobody can tell you

There's only one song worth singing

They may try and sell you

Cause it hangs them up

To see someone like you

But you gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind of music

Even if nobody else sings along

You're gonna be nowhere

The loneliest kind of lonely

It may be rough going

Just to do your thing is the hardest thing to do

But you gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind of music

Even if nobody else sings along

So if you cannot take my hand

And if you must be going, I will understand

You gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind of music

Even if nobody else sings along

You gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own kind of song 

Make your own kind of music
Even if nobody else sings along
You gotta make your own kind of music 

Sing your own kind of song

Make your own kind of music

Even if nobody else sings along

No no no no

Even if nobody else sings along

If nobody else sings along

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil

Make Your Own Kind of Music lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC