PTSD Patrol: Don't stay stuck in the sand with a grudge

PTSD Patrol 

Kathie Costos 

July 26, 2020

A day at the beach may sound like a good day, but not if you go there right before a hurricane!

 

This Beached Dodge Charger Is Buried in Sand Thanks to Hurricane

The Drive

You missed the signs in the sky and kept driving. You did not check the weather report. When it is too late and you are stuck in the sand, you could get angry that no one told you it was coming. The thing is, plenty of people were talking about it, but you didn't listen.

There is a storm in you when you have PTSD. Plenty of people are trying to tell you what you need to know but if you do not listen, it is not their fault.

There are also signs that you need to see when it comes to holding a grudge against someone. Maybe they tried to get you to listen to what you were doing, but you just got angry. Maybe they tried to tell you how you made them feel but you just got defensive.

For whatever reason you may think holding a grudge is justifiable, it is probably a bad idea like going to the beach on the wrong day.

PTSD Patrol: Forgiveness creates a new road to heal on...together

PTSD Patrol 

Kathie Costos 

July 25, 2020

Happily Daily

When you have PTSD, you can start to understand what is going on with you but other people don't know until you explain it to them. You can always find a way to make your life easier with them by forgiving them and they'll forgive themselves too.b #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

As you can see, geese discovered they have an easier journey when they work together as a team. They lift others up, and in return, when they get tired, they are supported by the others. When it is like that in life, it is an amazing journey for you too!

So why not let them help you when you need it? Things can be so much better for you when you do and you'll be able to soar above the pain you are in faster!

PTSD Patrol: Spiritual healing with a clean windshield

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

July 24, 2020

There are many different places online referring to the power of forgiveness. Each one of them is helpful. For right now, Psychology Today has a great piece from 2015 by Mark Banschick MD.

Should You Forgive? Forgiving — sometimes easy, sometimes impossible

Forgiveness requires a special kind of thinking that is not always easy; a letting go, a putting things in perspective and an acceptance that the world has been unkind, or perhaps even cruel to you.

Forgiveness and Trauma:

When a psychological hurt lies deep in our minds, like an early trauma or deprivation, or a violent betrayal, forgiveness will require trauma work. This is because trauma wires your brain to a fight/flight mode that can be triggered in multiple ways - and sometimes daily. You strive to let go, but you find yourself reliving the event, over and over.  In order to do forgiveness work, you will have to deal with the depressive and often maladaptive ways that your mind processes trauma.

After surviving many other things in my life, the hardest one centered around domestic violence. That is what I am talking about in the video today.

Until I could forgive, there was no room in me for anything positive to get in. 

After talking about the mind and what PTSD does, we're moving onto the most important part in my view. That is your spiritual path towards healing. It's the windshield. Hanging onto the bad someone did to you, keeps good things from getting in. There is no room when bitterness consumes you. This part of the videos is explaining how to forgive and see things in a different way. #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

PTSD Patrol Passengers

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

July 23, 2020

When you have PTSD, you are the driver of everyone in your life. It is just the way it is. When they do not understand what is going on inside of you, they end up putting all of it on their shoulders. Then, you don't know what you are doing to them. It gets very confusing for everyone. It is like getting lost on a road trip, losing your cell phone reception and your GPS. (If you're old like me, I remember reading a road map and having it blow out the window!)

Kindercare

My husband and I have been married over 35 years, so trust me, I get it. I know what PTSD did to him and also what it did to me. I can assure you that the road ahead can be tricky. It can feel like being stuck in traffic for hours. Knowing what PTSD is, and why it does what it does, having your passengers in life know, then it can be more like a pleasant Sunday drive!

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Here are some helpful links to a couple of videos and a book I wrote. You can read it for free if you have Kindle.

PTSD Patrol after accidents

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

July 22, 2020

This is the one that has been the most difficult. After an accident, or whatever caused the problem, you may need more help than you may want.

Help is there for you! Knowing what you need to get you back on the road ahead is good, but even better if you know where to find it. #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD