PTSD does not mean you are broken

Wounded Times and PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
November 27, 2020

Today I noticed that Wounded Times is still getting about 1,000 hits a day after months of not posting on it. That tells me the need to find this work, is still there. While I have been focusing on everyone with PTSD since June, I keep getting reminders that our veterans are not getting what they need to heal. One more reminder came Tuesday when I received a phone call from someone working with veterans. 

As we were talking, the sadness took over because he was having a hard time facing the fact that his work was hard to find too. So much nonsense out there getting in the way of what works, and what can change lives, more and more people are giving up. We're not! We are not giving up because as heartbreaking as it is to know how much suffering there is out there, the feeling we get when lives are changed, is so worth whatever price we have to pay with our own emotions.

I know first hand that life can change for the better. My husband knows that. All the veterans I've worked with over all these years, know that. I just wish everyone knew that.

So today, the daily video on PTSD Patrol is featuring Jon Bon Jovi Unbroken. If you are a veteran, you are not broken and you are not the problem. If you are a person trying to heal PTSD, you are not broken either. No one is really broken, a little dented, OK, but not broken.

I was born to be of service

Basic training felt like home

I had honor, I found purpose

Sir, yes, sir, that's what I know

They sent us to a place

I'd never heard of weeks before

When you're 19, it ain't hard to sleep

In the desert on God's floor

Close your eyes, stop counting sheep

You ain't in prison anymore

We were taught to shoot our rifles

Men and women side by side

Thought we'd be met as liberators

In a thousand-year-old fight

I got this painful ringing in my ear

From an IED last night

But no lead-lined Humvee war machine

Could save my sergeant's life

Three more soldiers, six civilians

Need these words to come out right

God of mercy, God of light

Save your children from this life

Hear these words, this humble plea

For I have seen the suffering

And with this prayer I'm hoping

That we can be unbroken

It's eighteen months now I've been back now

With this medal on my chest

But there are things I can't remember

And there are things I won't forget

I lie awake at night

With dreams the devil shouldn't see

I wanna scream but I can't breathe

And, Christ, I'm sweating through these sheets

Where's my brothers? Where's my country?

Where's my how-things-used-to-be?

God of mercy, God of light

Save your children from this life

Hear these words, this humble plea

For I have seen the suffering

And with this prayer I'm hoping

That we can be unbroken

My service dog's done more for me

Than the medication would

There ain't no angel that's coming to save me

But even if they could

Today twenty-two will die from suicide

Just like yesterday, they're gone

I live my life for each tomorrow

So their memories will live on

Once we were boys and we were strangers

Now we're brothers and we're men

Someday you'll ask me "Was it worth it

To be of service in the end?"

Well, the blessing and the curse is

Yeah, I'll do it all again

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jon Bon Jovi

Unbroken lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group 

PTSD Patrol Don't Stop Me Now

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
November 26, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving! That may not sound so good if you are spending today alone, or feeling as if there is little in your life to be thankful for. Maybe it is time you changed, not just what you focus on, but how you see what it is. If you have PTSD, and are suffering, you may view what followed surviving as punishment. You got sadder, more depressed and pulled away from the people you cared about. That's hard. Try to change how you see surviving as another chance to change. After all, that is what PTSD is. It was change from what you perceived as "normal" into trauma, and then back out as a survivor. It changed how you see things in your life.

There have been stories about people who died, and were brought back to life, reporting how they saw things. Bright lights, images of their life, replays of events and surrounded by warmth. For others, it was not such a pleasant exprience. It was almost like the story of Scrooge for them. Those who saw the horrific were also changed but for some of them, even that did not get them to change their ways. They went deeper into thinking only about themselves. Those who had the good experience between death and re-life changed for the better. Kinder, more thoughtful, wanting to be a better person, they made the best out of their extra time.

When you change how you view things, it makes a huge difference in how you see everything, little by little. If you wish you could have had the traditional celebration this year, know that you did the right thing by staying away from others because there is a raging pandemic out there. You are not contributing to it, but helping those you care about stay alive. In other words, preventing the need to regret a selfish decision. 

Now you can focus on next year. How much better will it be when you are healing even more and are happier? That is why today the feature video is Queen Don't Stop Me Now. You can be having a good time when things are better, because you will be better. Your outlook will be better and those you care about will know, you did this work on yourself for their sake. Think about that gift you will give them next year on Thanksgiving!

Remember it is your life...get in and drive it! #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Tonight, I'm gonna have myself a real good time

I feel alive and the world I'll turn it inside out, yeah

And floating around in ecstasy

So don't stop me now don't stop me

'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time

I'm a shooting star, leaping through the sky

Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity

I'm a racing car, passing by like Lady Godiva

I'm gonna go, go, go

There's no stopping me

I'm burnin' through the sky, yeah

Two hundred degrees

That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit

I'm traveling at the speed of light

I wanna make a supersonic man out of you

Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time

I'm having a ball

Don't stop me now

If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call

Don't stop me now ('cause I'm having a good time)

Don't stop me now (yes, I'm havin' a good time)

I don't want to stop at all

Yeah, I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars

On a collision course

I am a satellite, I'm out of control

I am a sex machine, ready to reload

Like an atom bomb about to

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh explode

I'm burnin' through the sky, yeah

Two hundred degrees

That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit

I'm traveling at the speed of light

I wanna make a supersonic woman of you

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Don't stop me, hey, hey, hey

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Ooh ooh ooh, I like it

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Have a good time, good time

Don't stop me, don't stop me, ah

Oh yeah

Alright

Oh, I'm burnin' through the sky, yeah

Two hundred degrees

That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit

I'm traveling at the speed of light

I wanna make a supersonic man out of you

Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time

I'm having a ball

Don't stop me now

If you wanna have a good time (wooh)

Just give me a call (alright)

Don't stop me now ('cause I'm having a good time, yeah yeah)

Don't stop me now (yes, I'm havin' a good time)

I don't want to stop at all

La da da da daah

Da da da haa

Ha da da ha ha haaa

Ha da daa ha da da aaa

Ooh ooh ooh

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Freddie Mercury

Don't Stop Me Now lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC 

PTSD Patrol Do You Want To Stay Together?

PTSD Patrol 

Kathie Costos 

November 25, 2020

Today the video is up early make up for yesterday. My husband had minor surgery and was supposed to come home but they decided to keep him overnight. This morning when I was driving to pick him up, I heard a song on the radio and started to chair dance. 

It got me thinking about all the things we've been through and how glad I was that I decided to stay with him when things were not so good. The way I see it, I knew him when things were better. I knew his character and his heart. I knew he'd be worth whatever I needed to do to help him be happier.

The song is Al Green's Let's Stay Together.

This is for anyone who loves someone with PTSD. You need to figure out if you want to stay together in bad times as well as the good. Having PTSD isn't easy on them. It is hard on you, but especially hard on them since they lose hope as they see you pulling away from them. When they need you the most, they push you away so that you won't see how much pain they are in. That may not make sense to you, but there isn't much that does make sense when they are living on a rollercoaster with their emotions all over the place.

They feel the don't deserve anything one moment and the next, they are entitled to everything. They have overblown reactions to simple things and paranoia starts to take over too. They try to hide their pain so that you don't feel sorry for them or think they are crazy, and that leaves you not knowing what it going on.

There is no way we could have stayed together all these years if I didn't have a full understanding of what PTSD was and knew that things could get better with a lot of work and a lot of patience. Faith, well, needless to say, played a huge part in keeping me together too.

Listen to the lyrics and then ask yourself, do you want to stay together or walk away? My guess is that you love them enough to fight for them, the same way you'd hope they'd fight for you if you were the survivor who needed them!

"Let's Stay Together" 

Let's stay together 

I'm, I'm so in love with you

Whatever you want to do

Is alright with me

'Cause you make me feel so brand new

And I want to spend my life with you 

 Let me say that since, baby

Since we've been together

Loving you forever

Is what I need

Let me be the one you come running to

I'll never be untrue 

Oh, baby, let's, let's stay together

Loving you whether, whether

Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, somebody, why people break-up

Oh, turn around and make-up

I just can't see

You'd never do that to me

Would you, baby?

Just being around you is all I see

Here's what I want us to do 

Let's, we ought to stay together

Loving you whether, whether

Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Come on 

Let's, let's stay together

Loving you whether, whether

Times are good or bad, happy or sad

AZLyrics 

Wounded Minds is one of the first videos I did in 2006. It is about staying together....

PTSD Patrol When Life Gets Good Again

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
November 23, 2020

Did you know that life is going to get good again? It always does. Ever since this nation began, we've been through terrible times, but it got good again. We've had wars and turmoil, sickeness and mass deaths, the list goes on, but out of all those heartbreaking events, miracles happened...and life got good again

The thing is, when it does, what will you be like? Will you be a better person? Kinder, more loving, appreciate the people in our life more and feel blessed over little things, or will you remain bitter? 

Today the feature video is Dolly Parton When Life Gets Good Again!  

A lot of people are thinking about themselves and how they want to be with their family and friends having a feast for Thanksgiving. Why? Why would they want to jeopardize the people they are supposed to be thankful for?

Some want to celebrate Christmas with parties and buy gifts for the people in their lives to make them happy, but fail to see they could come to regret it when it is too late, and next year, instead of gifts, they are putting flowers on their graves.

Feeling sorry is a lot different than regretting something like that. A bad decision for a good reason always has bad results. It is much better to have them around as long as possible, for when life gets good again!

Next year, you can be a happier person if you work on it so you'll be ready for when life gets good again, and you are healing.

Remember it is your life...get in and drive it! #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Dolly Parton - When Life Is Good Again (Official Music Video) 

When life is good again

I'll be a better friend

A bigger person when

Life is good again

More thoughtful than I've been

I'll be so different then

More in the moment when

Life is good again

I'll open up my heart

And let the whole world in

I'll try to make amends

When life is good again

We've been brought to our knees

We've been so ill at ease

There are no guarantees

But you know life goes on

This too shall pass away

Bring new and different days

We need to change our ways

And right our wrongs

Let's open up our hearts

And let the whole world in

Let's try to make amends

When life is good again

I'll open up my doors again

And hear the message in the wind

Repent of all my sins (Hallelujah)

When life is good again

I'll try to be someone

On which you can depend

A helping hand to lend

Let's open up our eyes

And see what's goin' on

If we're to move along

From where we've been

Let's open up our hearts

And let the love shine in (shine in)

We've all got knees to bend

And we'll just pray 'til then

Ask God's forgiveness when

Life is good again

And it's gonna be good again

(It's gonna be, it's gonna be)

It's gonna be good again

It'll be alright (it'll be alright)

God's the reason for all things

You want rainbows, you get rain

We'll all be forever changed (forever changed)

I'll sail my boat and fly my kite

Walk in the park, go out at night

And hold my loved ones extra tight

When everything is on the mend

I'll even drink with my old friends

Sing and play my mandolin

We'll make it through this long dark night

Darkness fades when faced with light

But everything's gonna be alright

When life is good again

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dolly Parton / Kent Wells

When Life Is Good Again lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC 

PTSD Patrol Don't Give Up

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
November 22, 2020

When you believe in yourself, it sucks when others do not believe in you too. You know the right thing to do, and when it gets hard to do it, it is easier to just give up...but not better.

I know what that is like. I have over 500 videos up on YouTube and lost count on how many posts, but there are not many people who supported me over the years. I still believe in doing the right thing. 

When I met my husband, people didn't think it would last but we've been together for 38 years and married for over 36...because we believed. We believed in each other and got through the darkest times together.

"Even when nobody else believes, I'm mot grim' down easily" and that is why the feature song today is Andy Grammar Don't Give Up On Me.

It would be easier to do the right thing if you have support and someone to help you, but don't let that stop you. That is how miracles happen, Everything that has been achieved only happened because the people trying to do it, did not give up on themselves. 

Don't let PTSD stop you from believing in yourself!

I won't give up on you and hope you don't give up on me!

Remember, it is your life, get in and drive it! #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

I will fight

I will fight for you

I always do until my heart

Is black and blue

And I will stay

I will stay with you

We'll make it to the other side

Like lovers do

I'll reach my hands out in the dark

And wait for yours to interlock

I'll wait for you

I'll wait for you

'Cause I'm not givin' up

I'm not givin' up, givin' up

No, not yet

Even when I'm down to my last breath

Even when they say there's nothin' left

So don't give up on

I'm not givin' up

I'm not givin' up, givin' up

No, not me

Even when nobody else believes

I'm not goin' down that easily

So don't give up on me

And I will hold

I'll hold onto you

No matter what this world'll throw

It won't shake me loose

I'll reach my hands out in the dark

And wait for yours to interlock

I'll wait for you

I'll wait for you

'Cause I'm not givin' up

I'm not givin' up, givin' up

No, not yet

Even when I'm down to my last breath

Even when they say there's nothin' left

So don't give up on

I'm not givin' up

I'm not givin' up, givin' up

No, not me

Even when nobody else believes

I'm not goin' down that easily

So don't give up on me

Whoa, whoa

Whoa, whoa

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I will fight

I will fight for you

I always do until my heart

Is black and blue

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Andrew Charles Grammer / Bram Inscore / Jacob Torrey / San Farrar

Don't Give up on Me lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. 

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?

Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know, ooh oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And You say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours

And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)

What You say of me (I)

I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me

In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, ooh oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours

And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)

What You say of me (I)

Oh, I believe

Taking all I have and now I'm layin' it at Your feet

You'll have every failure God, You'll have every victory, ooh oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours

And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)

What You say of me (I)

I believe

Oh, I believe (I), yes, I believe (I)

What You say of me (I)

I believe (oh)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Lauren Daigle / Paul Brendon Mabury

You Say lyrics © Essential Music Publishing

Lauren Daigle - You Say (Official Music Video)