trauma in the night

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
June 25, 2021

Right now, most people are talking about the missing in Surfside Florida. The ten year old boy rescued has just discovered his mother is one of the people who died. First Surfside condo collapse victim identified as Stacie Fang, mother of rescued boy reported by the Miami Herald.

SURVIVORS RECOUNT HARROWING ESCAPE FROM COLLAPSED CONDO
1 p.m.: Alfredo and Marian Lopez were sound asleep around 1:30 a.m. Thursday when they heard the first boom, like a crash of thunder from a Florida squall. Only louder.

“I woke up and thought we’re just having a bad thunderstorm,” Alfredo, 61, later told the Miami Herald. The noise jolted him from sleep in his sixth-floor apartment at the northwest corner of Champlain Towers South in Surfside.

So did Bruno Treptow, 62, who was sleeping in his unit exactly two floors above, in the same corner of the 40-year-old, 12-story condo tower. (read more on above link)

If you survived, or still searching for one of the 159 still missing, now is the time to get help.

If you think you need to stay strong for everyone else, you are partially correct. The only way to do that is to open up and ask for help now, so that you can be a strong example of what to do. If you are thinking that you need to hold in your emotions, then they will begin to take over until they have so much power over you, that PTSD will most likely take hold too.

Right now you can break the chain from trauma to suffering a life altering change. Surviving a traumatic event like this was hard enough. Don't make it harder than it should be.

Chaplains and crisis intervention teams have already been deployed. Turn to them. Turn to each other and lean on one another. Give and receive strength together.

Not Alone

RED

Slowly fading away

You're lost and so afraid

Where is the hope in a world so cold?

Looking for a distant light

Someone who can save a life

Living in fear that no one will hear your cry

(Can you save me now?)

I am with you

I will carry you through it all

I won't leave you, I will catch you

When you feel like letting go

'Cause you're not, you're not alone

Your heart is full of broken dreams

Just a fading memory

And everything's gone but the pain carries on

Lost in the rain again

When will it ever end?

The arms of relief seem so out of reach

But I, I am here

I am with you

I will carry you through it all

I won't leave you, I will catch you

When you feel like letting go

'Cause you're not, you're not alone

And I will be your hope when you feel like it's over

And I will pick you up when your whole world shatters

And when you're finally in my arms

You'll look up and see, love has a face

I am with you

I will carry you through it all

I won't leave you, I will catch you

When you feel like letting go

'Cause you're not, you're not alone

And I will be your hope (you're not alone)

And I will pick you up

And I will be your hope

And I will be your hope

Slowly fading away

You're lost and so afraid

Where is the hope in a world so cold?

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jasen Rauch / Mark L Holman / Robert Douglas Iii Graves

Not Alone lyrics © Emi Blackwood Music Inc., Logansong Music

Wednesday night the people living in the Champlain Towers, Surfside Florida, went to sleep with plans for the next day. Early Thursday morning, that was all destroyed. As of Friday morning, there were 4 dead and 159 remain missing.

Now is the time to reach out for help because the days will be harder for a while. Chaplains have been deployed there and they are trained to help you.

If you are thinking you need to be strong to help others, then let that motivate you to be an example by asking for help because you need it. That will allow them to feel free to ask for it too. #BreakTheSilence

make good times even better

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
June 2, 2021

Happiness sneaks up on you! All of a sudden, all the things you used to enjoy seem even better than before. "Good times never seemed so good!"

That is what it is like when you come out of the darkest hell and heal PTSD. No longer trapped by misery, doubt, paranoia, feeling as if you have something to hide and realize that life can be better than before. Maybe it is because even though you wouldn't admit it, you missed feeling happy, being with friends, doing fun things and yes, smiling without feeling as if you had to force it.

You end up with strange reactions to things you thought you'd never care about again. When we lived in Florida, there were some spatular sunrises and sunsets. Once in a while my husband would go out to the pool deck and scream my name. I'd go running to him and he'd be pointing up at the sky, with the amazed look of a child seeing it for the first time.

Right now, for me, I feel like a kid when I get to do something as simple as get my hair cut, hug people again and see smiling faces.

The entire world got a lesson on what trauma is by living through their own trauma and it was different for everyone. Some people lost all they owned, others lost everyone they loved. Some people were forced to work from home, others lost their jobs. That is what the darkness of PTSD is like. 

When more people go vaccinated, like us, things started to look more hopeful. People started to do the right thing. Instead of just complaining about what they couldn't do, more and more people decided they could do their part so they would be able to do what they wanted to do safely. We've seen the numbers go down on the sickness and death counts, just as we've seen the numbers go up on the vaccinated side.

That is what healing is! It is what it is like to heal PTSD too. You can make good times even better because now you know what you missed. You won't take it for granted anymore and when it sneaks up on you, you get back hope of more good times and good feelings.

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD 

Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond

Where it began, I can't begin to knowing

But then I know it's growing strong

Was in the spring

And spring became the summer

Who'd have believed you'd come along

Hands, touching hands

Reaching out, touching me, touching you

Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good

I've been inclined

To believe they never would

But now I

Look at the night and it don't seem so lonely

We filled it up with only two

And when I hurt

Hurting runs off my shoulders

How can I hurt when holding you

One, touching one

Reaching out, touching me, touching you

Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good

I've been inclined

To believe they never would

Oh no, no

Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good

Sweet Caroline

I believe they never could

Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Neil Diamond

Sweet Caroline lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, DistroKid 

PTSD: Ghostbusters ready to believe you!

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 11, 2021

It is so strange how so many songs can be applied to living with PTSD. OK! I admit it, I am strange but that's OK too since the word "normal" is just an illusion. What is normal? What is something that is "normal" to one person won't be to someone else. This morning the theme from Ghostbusters popped into my brain, which may not sound normal to anyone else, but considering what I do, it is. Ghostbusters were not normal at all but fighting ghosts was just a job to them. 

I decided that today it would be the featured video today. Ghostbusters Commercial starts with "Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night?" It ends with "We're ready to believe you!"
That is what it is like when you finally find someone who believes you. Finding a trauma specialist is like calling Ghostbusters. You may feel odd or strange but it is their job to fight the ghosts that have been following you around since you survived whatever caused PTSD to hit you. "Busting ghosts makes them feel good" and you feel better too!

I had ghosts chasing me too. Now, "I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts! Isn't it time to get them out of your life too?

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD 

Ghostbusters

Ray Parker Jr. 

Ghostbusters!

If there's something strange

In your neighborhood

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

If there's something weird

And it don't look good

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

If you're seeing things

Running through your head

Who can you call?

Ghostbusters!

An invisible man

Sleepin' in your bed

Ow, who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

If you're all alone

Pick up the phone

And call

Ghostbusters!

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

Ooh, I hear it likes the girls

Hm, I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Mmm, if you've had a dose of a

Freaky ghost, baby

You better call

Ghostbusters!

Ow!

Lemme tell ya something

Bustin' makes me feel good!

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

Don't get caught alone oh, no

Ghostbusters!

When it comes through your door

Unless you just want some more

I think you better call

Ghostbusters!

Ow! Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Uh, think you better call

Ghostbusters!

Ha ha, who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

I can't hear you

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Louder

Ghostbusters!

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Who can you call?

Ghostbusters!

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Ray Parker Jr. Ghostbusters lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Ray Parker Jr Dba Raydiola Music 

The best time to seek help is NOW!

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

April 3, 2021

Today is a good day to focus on what happened in Washington on January 6, because yesterday was a reminder of it when another Capitol Police Officer William Evans was killed and another was injured to the point where he had to be hospitalized.

There is so much that does not get covered when major news stories come out and that is how so many people who were not there, will also see their lives changed because they cared about the people who were involved.

Mother of injured Capitol officer: What my son went through will leave an imprint on my mind forever

NBC News

All have mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, sisters and brothers, and children who will experience the traumatic impact associated with this day for a very long time.

KAKE News
Opinion by Theresa J. Fanone
Thursday, April 1st 2021

Donald Trump recently said that his supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 were "hugging and kissing" police officers and posed "zero threat."

My experience of that day, and every day since, has been significantly different.

My son, Michael Fanone, is a 20 year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, assigned to the First District. I knew there was a rally planned for Jan. 6. All leave had been canceled. This was to be an "all hands on deck" event. Michael was scheduled to work his regular shift but left for work early that day.

I had been listening and watching on television the speeches at Trump's "Save America" rally. More and more, my anxiety grew as I saw the enormous crowd and listened to the negativity and tone of the rhetoric expressed by all speakers. For me, it evoked fear and sounded like the speakers were advocating for a threatening confrontation.

Terror, horror, anger, fear and rage do not begin to capture the emotions I felt that day, wondering which police officer's face belonged to my son. I prayed --- for my son and all the sons, daughters, fathers and mothers who were present that day. Watching the beatings, suffering, fear and confusion on these officers' faces will leave an indelible imprint on my mind forever.
read more here

There were 800 people who stormed into the Capitol and every member of the House and Senate, plus their staff, were terrorized by them, but all of them had people who care about them watching and worrying while helplessly watching it on TV. Families of the officers trying to protect the Capitol were also watching it happen. Many of them have the same emotional price as Officer Fanone's Mom.

And then there are the people who care about those who decided to do this terrible thing. How many of them will be changed by what they witnessed their family members did? How do you come to terms with any of this?

California man charged with attacking officer with stun weapon in Capitol riot
NBC News
By Phil Helsel
April 1, 2021

A Southern California man has been indicted on charges that he attacked a police officer with an "electroshock weapon" during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, prosecutors said Thursday.

Daniel Rodriguez, 38, of Fontana, was arrested Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said.

He is accused of attacking Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone during the assault on the Capitol as Congress was formally counting the electoral votes affirming President Joe Biden's win.

Fanone has described being beaten by the mob and shocked with a stun gun repeatedly, and he has said some in the crowd chanted, "Kill him with his own gun."

"I was being beaten with a thin blue line flag — which, you know, how ironic is that?" Fanone told NBC Washington in January. The flag is generally seen as supportive of law enforcement. He said he suffered a mild heart attack. read more here 

We may never know the true numbers of people who had their lives changed in those horrible hours. What we do know is that there will be many emotional wounds and will be in need of help to heal those scars. This was a mass casualty event.

The sooner you seek help to heal, the better your recovery will be. You had no control over what happened and as hard as it is to believe, you did not control what others decided to do. You only have the power to do what you can from every moment afterwards.

The best time to seek help is NOW!

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Don't Dream It's Over Live (HQ)

Crowded House

There is freedom within

There is freedom without

Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup

There's a battle ahead

Many battles are lost

But you'll never see the end of the road

While you're travelling with me

Hey now, hey now

Don't dream it's over

Hey now, hey now

When the world comes in

They come, they come

To build a wall between us

We know they won't win

Now I'm towing my car

There's a hole in the roof

My possessions are causing me suspicion

But there's no proof

In the paper today

Tales of war and of waste

But you turn right over to the TV page

Hey now, hey now

Don't dream it's over

Hey now, hey now

When the world comes in

They come, they come

To build a wall between us

We know they won't win

Now I'm walking again

To the beat of a drum

And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart

Only shadows ahead

Barely clearing the roof

Get to know the feeling of liberation and release

Hey now, hey now

Don't dream it's over

Hey now, hey now

When the world comes in

They come, they come

To build a wall between us

You know they won't win

Don't let them win (Hey now, hey now)

Hey now, hey now

Hey now, hey now

Don't let them win (They come, they come)

Don't let them win (Hey now, hey now), yeah

Hey now, hey now

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Finn Neil Mullane

Don’t Dream It’s Over lyrics © Roundhead Music

No video from me today. I have to put together a new desk for the office and I'm a mess!

Don't stay still...walk on

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
January 11, 2021

Today I was feeling nostalgic after watching all the coverage of what happened in Washington DC. When the Capitol was attacked, my Massachusetts blue blood started boiling. I needed to cool off and searched for videos to remind me how this country started. That was when I landed on the video from the musical 1776, The Egg. (see below)

After that and several more, somehow I ended up in a rabbit hole that brought me to videos on 9 11. Thinking that it happened 20 years ago, yet the emotions flooded me with the same intensity as they did during those dark days.

The video from U2 Walk On, gave me hope that we shall rise up and walk on after this attack too!

When traumatic events come into our lives, we have a time to deal with the shock and try to make sense of it. We go through all the questions and emotional roller coaster ride, resting when we need it and crying when we have to. But then, we decide to stay still, or walk on.

If we choose to stay still, then we do not recover the power we have over our own lives. If we choose to walk on, then we have a chance for our lives to get better, heal our wounds as our scars fade away and rise stronger than we thought we could be.

Much like the founding fathers!

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Walk On

U2

And love is not the easy thing

The only baggage that you can bring...

And love is not the easy thing

The only baggage you can bring

Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart

And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off

And if your glass heart should crack

And for a second you turn back

Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on

What you got they can't steal it

No, they can't even feel it

Walk on, walk on

Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been

A place that has to be believed to be seen

You could have flown away

A singing bird in an open cage

Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on

What you've got they can't deny it

Can't sell it, or buy it

Walk on, walk on

Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches

And your heart it breaks

And you can only take so much

Walk on

walk on

Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one

Home, I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home

That's where the hurt is

And I know it aches

And your heart it breaks

And you can only take so much

Walk on

Leave it behind

You've got to leave it behind

All that you fashion

All that you make

All that you build

All that you break

All that you measure

All that you steal

All this you feel

All that you reason

All that you care (It's only time)

And I'll never fill up all my mind

All that you sense

All that you speak

All you dress up

And all that you scheme

All you create

All that you wreck

All that you hate

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Paul David Hewson / Adam Clayton / David Evans / Laurence Mullenv Walk On lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management 

Just for laughs, the is the video that put me into the rabbit hole!

PTSD Patrol overdrive out of violence

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

August 8, 2020

If you watch America's Got Talent, you've seen Terry Crews in action. There is something you didn't know about him. He had a hard life growing up with domestic violence. He became, among so many other things, a motivational speaker to give comfort and hope to others like him....and me.

I grew up with a violent alcoholic Father. He finally stopped drinking when I was 13 but I still remember the pain he caused my Mom and my brothers, that they never really recovered from. I took a different approach and forgave him.

Years later, he found out that he was on "borrowed time" because of his heart. Knowing he was going to die, he still stayed sober. I asked him why one one and he said, "I've done enough damage and swore I would never hurt my family like that again." He kept his word.

When you live with domestic violence it can feel as if there is no way out. I know what that is like but there are many more people who are out there to let you know there is hope of going into overdrive out and into a happier life. #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

How To Overcome Your Worst Trauma

Inspirational Speech By Terry Crews.

Terry Crews is sharing with us his past life experience that will open your eyes and inspire you. A great lesson to be learned.

PTSD? Time to see a mechanic

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

June 23, 2020

When your vehicle isn't running right you take it to a mechanic. They put it on the diagnostic testing to figure out what is going on. Go to a trauma specialist to figure out what is going on with you. #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Are you struggling with getting through pandemic crisis?

Advice getting through another crisis

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
April 8, 2020

"So now go do the best things in life

Take a bite of this world while you can

Make the most of the rest of your life"

Disturbed - Hold on to Memories

I am going to start this the way I usually end a video...with what you are empowered to do. "...go do the best things in life...make the most of the rest of your life."


Right now the world is living through global pandemic trauma. Life as they knew it ended. As of yesterday "There are at least 387,547 cases of coronavirus in the United States and at least 12,291 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases." according to a CNN running update. That means at least that many have experienced the trauma of fighting for their lives. Even more have experienced the trauma of it coming into their families and the fear of it happening to those who have thus far escaped it.

While some people take a callous attitude to take advantage of the trauma, many more are going out to make sure others stay alive, even if it means they are subjecting themselves to more trauma.

Aside from hurricanes and this pandemic, I survived life altering trauma 10 times. I know what it can do to lives, but the key is, only if we allow it to gain control.

This is from ABC News

Calls to US helpline jump 891%, as White House is warned of mental health crisis

Last month the “Disaster Distress Helpline” at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) saw an 891% increase in call volume compared with March 2019, according to a spokesman for the agency, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

In fact, this March – ending little more than a week ago – saw 338% more calls to the helpline than in the month before, when the deadly virus began to take hold inside the U.S. homeland, and government officials began taking more extreme measures to stop its spread.

There are 57.8 million Americans currently living with mental or substance use disorders, according to SAMHSA.

Two ways to look at the report are, it is terrible that many are in crisis, or, there are many more fighting for their lives and acknowledging they need help. Please take that as a sign it is OK to ask for help if you need it too.

But what else can we do against something we have no control over? Look at what we can control. We can control how we act and react.

We control what we do if we are healthy enough to help others.

We control if we act out of kindness and patience, or react with selfishness.

We control if we show that we are suffering too and are afraid to comfort someone else, or react with judgement unwilling to show we are not super-human.

I controlled what I did with my life the second I went from victim to survivor. So can you. We can be defined by what we do with our lives from this second onward.

One more thought is that if you have PTSD, these days are harder on you but now most Americans are sadly experiencing what you have been trying to explain to them for a long time. Use the opportunity to share it with them so that they finally understand and then, heal together.

One of my favorite groups is Disturbed. One of their songs, "Hold Onto The Memories" is a good way to look at life the way we know it now.

Disturbed - Hold on to Memories [Official Live Video] - YouTube

www.youtube.com

Lyrics

Listen, everyone

The time will come when all of us say goodbye

Feel that aching in your heart

Leaving you broken inside

But we're never really gone

As long as there's a memory in you mind

So now go do the best things in life

Take a bite of this world while you can

Make the most of the rest of your life

Make a ride of this world while you can

Take the ones you love

And hold them close because there is little time

And don't let it break your heart

I know it feels hopeless sometimes

But they're never really gone

As long as there's a memory in you mind

So now go do the best things in life

Take a bite of this world while you can

Make the most of the rest of your life

Make a ride of this world while you can

And hold on to memories

Hold on to every moment

To keep them alive

The world's greatest tragedy

Souls who are not remembered

Cannot survive

So now go do the best things in life

Bring the fight to this world while you can

Make the most of the rest of your life

Shine your light on this world while you can

And hold on to memories

Hold on to every moment

To keep them alive

The world's greatest tragedy

Souls who are not remembered

Cannot survive

And hold on to memories (Hold on)

Hold on to every moment To keep them alive (Keep them alive)

The world's greatest tragedy (Hold on)

Souls who are not remembered

Cannot survive

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dan Donegan / David Draiman / Kevin Churko / Mike Wengren

Hold On to Memories lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Easter is a season of redemption! Many are struggling with the fact that they cannot go to church to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Think of it this way. We can go to church and thank Jesus for the resurrection of humanity when this is all over.

We see miracles happen when a long list of fellow citizens knowing risk their lives to help others. None of us could make it without these heroes. They leave their own families and friends so they can take care of us.

They are doing it without the equipment they need to do it as safely as possible, endless stress piled onto all the other days they have been facing traumatic situations flooding in. Yet still, they show up and do it all over again.

Sunday morning empowerment zone talk about the power of forgiveness. When you address the mental health part of PTSD, the healing begins. It gets better when you add in doing things for your body. But what about your soul? That is where PTSD lives. When you begin to heal that, you begin to see miracles in your own life!

"Then I am still and wait here in the silence"

Dawn of aVeterans Day

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
November 11, 2018

Before dawn yesterday, I went out to Apopka to walk along the path of the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall. I wanted to see the darkness turn to the light of day.

Much like when you drive surrounded by darkness, you can light your way by turning on your headlights, you can do that with your life as well.

The darkness can feel overwhelming at times and it can be hard to see what is around you.

Just like when you were in combat, you had your brothers and sisters with you and they are still around you now. Every experience you had with them remains in your soul. Lean on the memories when you saw kindness, compassion, shared laughter and secrets.

Now what is around you are people who love you and want you to be happy. You have people waiting to help you believe you are not sitting in darkness by yourself and they want to show you how to get back into the light of day.

When dawn breaks darkness, it does not just happen to begin a day. It happens to begin a chance to start with a different way to go. Just like turning on the lights of your vehicle to see better, you have a chance to see your life better. #CombatPTSD and #TakeBackYourLife

This is Veterans Day, so here is a little history lesson on who all of us should thank for what is available today for us after surviving traumatic events.

PTSD Patrol Road Crew Hitting the Road to Healing!

PTSD ROAD CREW CLEARING THE WAY
PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
June 30, 2018

You can follow the road to hope!

The concept of PTSD Patrol
Everyone can understand the vehicle they drive without knowing how it all works. Too many do not understand the vehicle they live in (our body) and even less understand how it works. We need to know how to drive it so we can get to where we want to be.

The concept is about taking control of your life from this moment onward. It is all drive related so you can drive your life from hopelessness into hopefulness. Much like trying to get from one place to another on an empty tank of gas, into a full tank that will get you where you want to be.

The goal is to change the conversation into what all survivors of trauma need to hear. They can take control of their lives again! After all, I did!



Nothing is impossible!

ScoutPreacher: Me. Others mapped out and road, smoothed the surface and paved it before I even knew what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was. I have been up and down on this roadway for 36 years now. Many came afterwards, but I learned from the pioneers so I could lead my husband out of the darkness and be able to co-drive our future.

One early morning at work, waiting for the coffee to brew, (I get in a little after 5 am) I was sitting outside when it was about 70 degrees here in Florida, but was snowing back in New England. I thought about how my husband used to go out ahead of everyone else to plow the streets.

Then I thought about how no one goes anywhere without someone clearing the way first. My friend Kimberley Lewis and I were trying to come up with a logo for this site, but had not been content with anything until I told her I wanted a plow.

After all, I'd been clearing the way for a very long time. This is Kimberley Lewis and the design she worked very hard on.

This is not about me making any money at all on this! After all these years, I have proven that it does not cost much money at all to change a life. It takes knowledge, training, time and compassion.

PTSD Patrol Empowerment Zone videos
The veterans you see in the videos and friends who care enough to get hope in to help, deserve a lot of credit. I can tell you first hand how much courage it takes to be on that side of the camera! To be able to talk about what they went through, requires even more. The T-shirt is a way to thank them for those efforts and they should not have to pay for them.

They are the road crew! You can be on it too.

ROAD CREW
Want to do a video? If you are local, I can film it for you. If you want to do it on your cellphone, that is OK too. Just send me the link and I'll add it to the Facebook PTSD Patrol or this site if you do it on YouTube or Vimeo. 
REQUIRED: Has to be empowering, inspirational and related to something you drive, car, motorcycle, truck, fire engine, police car and yes, even plows! No doom and gloom on these since the goal is to fill them up with hope.

One friend told me that her son stole her shirt and was wearing it out when someone in a group asked him about the shirt. When he explained what it was all about, the person told him that he is a veteran and they talked. Yep! The veteran talked about what he was going through.

If you want to just do that, then, you get a shirt and my business cards so that you do not need to struggle with more than you can do. Have them contact me and I can explain more or find someone in their area to help them.

If you want to just wear this, then that is fine too. It is also OK if you just want to donate and then you are giving 2~

You do not have to be a veteran or family member. This is for everyone who has survived something that could have killed them or someone who is grieving for someone they loved.

This is a BOGO deal! Buy one, give one! I have them priced at $25. That covers you getting a T-shirt, giving one and being able to mail out what I have to.

If you want to change the outcome we have to change what we put into it!

Best way to donate is to send checks to Point Man, PO Box 196992 Winter Springs FL 32719 and take the tax deduction. Just let me know what you want and if you want a shirt, what size. 

Email me and I'll let you know other ways. woundedtimes@aol.com