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 Patrol claiming your power

PTSD Patrol 

Kathie Costos

August 7, 2020

When I was growing up, my Mom said the surest way to get me to do something, was telling me I couldn't. I am still that way. It was almost as if I was always willing to accept the challenge. Even now, I enjoy trying. My Mom gave up on a lot of things with me...but never gave up on me.

Some people have a place of power in our lives, like our family and close friends. Others, who really don't know us only have what we give them but we forget that. 

About 20 years ago, I ran into someone I went to high school with. He wanted to apologize for the way he treated me. For some reason, whatever it was, bothered him for 20 years, but I laughed because I didn't have a clue what the hell he was talking about. I told him that whatever he thought he did to me, he didn't.

That is what happens when we stop letting people have power over us, or think what they think of us matters, when they do not really matter in our lives.

No one has power over us unless we give it to them. Fear of failure has no power unless we let it stop us from trying. Nothing that happened in the past has the power unless we fear using our strength as a survivor and take back control of our lives. When you realize that, your life is about to get a lot happier! #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Patty Chang Anker is the author of SOME NERVE: Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave and the blogger behind Facing Forty Upside Down, for which she was named a Good Housekeeping Blogger We Love and voted a "Top 25 Funny Mom" at Circle of Moms. Anker is currently blogging on the issue of anxiety for Psychology Today.com and her work has appeared in O magazine and Marie Claire.
After a lifetime of living nowhere near the edge (hello, fear of failure!), she realized her comfort zone had shrunk to the size of her tush on the bench from which she cheered her children. When she started saying yes to things that scared her she discovered what it feels like to be truly alive. Some Nerve is the result of four years of facing her fears and inspiring others to face theirs. For the sake of the TEDx talk she thankfully does not have a fear of public speaking. But she does still have a fear of clowns.

PTSD Patrol Playing With Fire

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

August 6, 2020

When you survive you may continue to feel helpless. Then someone comes along to give you hope that you can heal by telling their own story. When you see them, unashamed, standing tall and having the courage to share what they went through, that is powerful. I know it was powerful for me as I began to study PTSD and read about others talking about their own pain. We may break by different circumstances by ourselves, but when we find that thing that binds us to someone else, we realize the only limits are the ones we allow. #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Playing With Fire

How To Heal From Trauma | Theo Fleury | Goalcast
Olympic superstar and NHL All-Star Theo Fleury shares his harrowing story of abuse in a powerful speech about the need to start a conversation around trauma and mental health.

PTSD Patrol after the storm

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

August 5, 2020

Every news station has reports on Isaias. They report on damaged homes, flooded areas, damage they can see with their eyes, but not the damage they do not see, or think about.

 

Here's what we know about Tropical Storm Isaias CNN

NCNG soldiers with the 105th Engineer Battalion support local first responders near Windsor, NC in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias. A tornado destroyed a mobile home park near Windsor. 

 

I lived in Florida and went through 10 hurricanes, tropical storms and remember the fear felt until the storm passed by. I remember damage done across the state and the stress member of the National Guard were under, along with all the other responders who put their lives on the line to get us back to whatever "normal" was...or as close to it as possible.

Today's extra video is for them so that we think about how the storms coming through our lives end long before they can say the same.

National Guardsmen and Reservists have the same wounds as active duty troops but they come back home without the same support. They grieve just as much but for many, they are also risking their lives as police officers and firefighters.

Vietnam veterans have been healing from what their service did to them and they know what it is to grieve. Combat PTSD is different from other types. We only know about this wound of war because they fought for everything available today for all veterans. If you have PTSD understand this one message. You are not stuck the way you are and your life can get better. PTSD caused the change in you. Change again!

PTSD Patrol getting out of pit of despair

This article on NBC News made me cry!"COVID-19 losses and uncertainty have led to a mental health crisis. Here's how to help"

Their feelings aren’t unique. The National Center for Health Statistics and Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey shows that in the third week of July, 30 percent of adults had symptoms of depressive disorder, compared to 6.6 percent last year; 36 percent had symptoms of an anxiety disorder, compared to 8.2 percent last year. Commonly affected groups appear to be women with children, young adults and people who are in sexual and gender minority groups.

Many are experiencing trauma from the widespread pandemic, grief over losses (be they life, job security, relationships or former ways of living), legitimate fears of getting sick and the absence of community and caregivers. In the background, all lack many of the typical outlets for coping with such stressors, including gym workouts, vacations, office talk and outings with friends — because, of course, exercise, regular sleep, healthy eating, social contact and a routine can help mitigate feeling depressed.

The worst thing about what is going on is that too many feel they have no power to do anything about it! They are wrong because we do have some power and until we start using it, the only outcome will be for it to keep getting worse.

People are getting assaulted for asking others to wear a mask. As stupid as that sounds, when you factor in massive crowds out enjoying themselves as if nothing is going on, it proves the rest of us are suffering for their pleasure.

What can you still do? What do you still have the power to do? Contact your members of the House and Senate and demand they stop using excuses for what they failed to do! Do not wait for the election to show your displeasure. They have had six months to get this under control and the long they fail us, the more we will suffer instead of recovering.

They are counting on you to keep suffering in silence. Time to #BreakTheSilence and stop suffering.

Today I could not contain my emotions, so the video today is not a happy one. I am putting up a couple of my older ones to make up for it, but remember, I am still just a human trying to do the best I can everyday, no matter how I feel.

PTSD Patrol in pit of despair

Mental health is in crisis across the country right now and it will not get better until we use the power we do still have to change it. The time for excuses is gone and we must Demand our officials act to change it. They have had long enough to get this pandemic under control. We keep suffering and should refuse to remain suffering in silence for their failures.

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

This is from last year and directed toward first responders. Until June of this year, my work was focused on veterans and responders. Now it is for everyone because the need is increasing!