You have a reason to fight the demon

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 13, 2021

I used the song by Disturbed, A Reason To Fight, not too long ago. I saw this video when I was putting up today's video for PTSD Patrol. It is too powerful and when I watched it, I knew it couldn't wait for another day. Someone needs to see it today and I hope it helps! For everyone else, just consider this a bonus video for the day.

Disturbed understands what that pain is like.

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. 

Stop running on empty and start healing!

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 13, 2021

This morning I had to go out but only had a quarter of a tank of gas. After hearing about all the gas shortages, long lines if a station had gas, I admit, I was worried. I live in New Hampshire and discovered that no station was out of fuel and there were no lines. Such a relief! Well that got me thinking about Jackson Browne Running On Empty.

"I don't know when that road turned into the road I'm on"

If that applies to you, then you may be "running on empty" wondering how the hell you ended up where you are. You could have been driving your life in circles, trying to get away from what has been following you. Or maybe you've just been trying to run away from yourself?

Consider this about a female veteran who lived for decades with PTSD, but did not know what it was.

Though she lived with the symptoms of PTSD, it was a long time before Bennett was formally diagnosed.

“Every year on the anniversary [of my trauma], on Aug. 24 and 25, I was on the phone with my friend who went through it with me. Every year. It was like I was stuck,” said Bennett. “I went through a lot of emotional trauma and guilt and everything. I had a lot of tears. I did a lot of crazy things. It changed me drastically in a lot of ways that weren’t good.”

Bennett sought help through DAV. It was then, 40 years after her assault, that she started therapy for PTSD and military sexual trauma (MST). “It wasn’t until [my DAV Service Officer] told me he’d seen in some of my records that there were some things that made him concerned. And he thought that maybe I should be checked out for PTSD.

“I went through a lot [with my family]; they disowned me. It really hurt; it broke my heart,” she added. “But now, I’m thinking my PTSD played a huge part in the way they acted toward me. I think the PTSD played a big role in my life.”

In 2010, Bennett was awarded 100-percent service connection for PTSD based on the trauma she endured in 1968. It took 42 years of quietly suffering before someone finally recognized her disability. Stories like hers are why the VA is making a huge push for additional research and studies into what Vietnam-era women veterans really endured. (Disabled American Veterans)

If you have PTSD, the road you got on was caused by the event you survived. She lost everything before she found out why she was suffering. "Running On Empty" and then she filled up with hope that her life could get better. She finally understood that what happened to her, followed by what happened afterwards, caused everything she was suffering from...and yes, she also experienced more troubling times with the anniversary date of when it started.

Ready to stop running on empty and fill up?

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Running On Empty

Jackson Browne

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

'65, I was 17 and running up 101

I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on

Running on (running on empty)

Running on (running blind)

Running on (running into the sun)

But I'm running behind

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

Trying not to confuse it, with what you do to survive

'69, I was 21 and I called the road my own

I don't know when that road turned into the road I'm on

Running on (running on empty)

Running on (running blind)

Running on (running into the sun)

But I'm running behind

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

People need some reason to believe

I don't know about anyone, but me

If it takes all night, that'll be all right

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

Looking into their eyes, I see them running too

Running on (running on empty)

Running on (running blind)

Running on (running into the sun)

But I'm running behind

Honey, you really tempt me

You know the way you look so kind

I'd love to stick around, but I'm running behind

(Running on) You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find

(Running blind) Running into the sun, but I'm running behind

Thank you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Browne Jackson

Running On Empty lyrics © Swallow Turn Music

Don't hate...learn

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 12, 2021

It is always easier to focus on what is bad, when there is too much that is bad. The thing is, if that is all you focus on you miss that majority of what is good. The majority of the people are good, caring people but you won't see them until you open your eyes. It is the same when you are looking at your own life. Some of it can be bad, sad, heartbreaking and you can have plenty of reasons to feeling hopeless....if that is all you focus on. What about the things that are good, happy, positive, and give you plenty of reasons to be happier?

Today I started to add subtitles. This means less to read here, but you can read the subtitles if you want. Let me know what you think. I hope it helps when I talk too fast.

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD.

Everyday People

Sly and The Family Stone

Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong

My own beliefs are in my song

The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then

Makes no difference what group I'm in

I am everyday people, yeah yeah

There is a blue one who can't accept

The green one for living with

A fat one tryin' to be a skinny one

Different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha

We got to live together

I am no better and neither are you

We're all the same whatever we do

You love me you hate me

You know me and then

You can't figure out the bag I'm in

I am everyday people

There is a long hair

That doesn't like the short hair

For being such a rich one

That will not help the poor one

Different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha

We got to live together

There is a yellow one that won't

Accept the black one

That won't accept the red one

That won't accept the white one

Different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and

Scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha

I am everyday people

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Sylvester Stewart

Everyday People lyrics © Mijac Music 

Playing For Change

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 

Why not be a hero to yourself again?

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 10, 2021

Why not fight for yourself instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you? You know "you" better than anyone else does. You know what you felt like before you were hit by what caused PTSD and you know what it felt like afterwards. Time for a hero to rush to rescue you and you're in luck...she's already there!

Today the featured video is about waiting for a hero. What about you? Why wait for someone who is already there? The truth is, if you have PTSD, you fought for your life and won, or you wouldn't have survived. Why not be a hero to yourself again?

Bonnie Taylor's song, Holding Out For A Hero had me thinking about a lot of women I've known over the years. All of them could stand on their own two feet and were perfectly happy living their own lives, their way. Sure they wanted to share their lives with someone but had no intention of settling for anything or anyone. 

So what are you holding out for now?

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Holding Out for a Hero

Bonnie Tyler

Where have all the good men gone

And where are all the gods

Where's the streetwise Hercules

To fight the rising odds

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed

Late at night I toss and I turn

And I dream of what I need

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

Somewhere after midnight

In my wildest fantasy

Somewhere just beyond my reach

There's someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat

It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above

Out where the lightning splits the sea

I could swear there is someone somewhere watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain

And the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jim Steinman / Dean Pitchford