I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 15, 2021

Imagine needing help to heal PTSD. You ask a friend a friend if they know how to get there. They tell you that road doesn't exist. They looked for it but never found it. Then you decide that you'll go looking for it. After a while you see a traffic sign that tells you exactly where that road is. You'll be happy to see it but then you realize you never would have found it, if you hadn't looked for it. 

You could end up being pissed off at your friend, or, you could go back and let them know where it is so they could find it too. Would you be ashamed of them for needing help? Nope! Then what is stopping you from looking for the help you need? Isn't it time you saw the sign and tell your friend it opened up your eyes too?

Today's featured video is Ace Of Base, The Sign!

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

The Sign

Ace of Base

Shock!

I, I got a new life

You would hardly recognize me

I'm so glad

How can a person like me care for you?

(Ah) Why do I bother

When you're not the one for me

Is enough enough?

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

I saw the sign

Life is demanding without understanding

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

I saw the sign

No one's gonna drag you up

To get into the light where you belong

But where do you belong?

Under the pale moon

For so many years I've wondered who you are

How could a person like you bring me joy

Under the pale moon

Where I see a lot of stars

Is enough enough?

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

I saw the sign

Life is demanding without understanding

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

I saw the sign

No one's gonna drag you up

To get into the light where you belong

But where do you belong?

Oh, oh, oh, oh

I saw the sign and it opened up my mind

And I am happy now

Living without you

I've left you, oh oh oh

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

I saw the sign

No one's gonna drag you up

To get into the light where you belong

I saw the sign, I saw the sign

I saw the sign

I saw the sign, I saw the sign

I saw the sign, I saw the sign

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

I saw the sign

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jenny Berggren / Malin Berggren / Jonas Berggren / Ulf Ekberg

The Sign lyrics © Megasong Publishing 

Vaccinated Get Freedom!

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 14, 2021

The video for today is not a chair dancing type of song. It is the kind you need to get up and dance to. This morning I woke up feeling really happy. The news from the CDC about not having to wear masks anymore was wonderful! I'm fully vacinated, and so is my husband, our daughter, family and friends. It means we can go back to the lives we were accustomed to. I won't use the word "normal" because that never really existed. What was normal to someone wasn't normal to someone else.

The word freedom was stuck in my head. The next thing I knew, I was thinking about the Blues Brothers and Aretha Franklin singing Think. Watching the video I cracked up laughing, bounced off my chair and started dancing. It is time to rejoice! We've all been through hell but because so many people are choosing to use their freedom to get vaccinated, we can start to enjoy ourselves again. I will probably wear a mask when I am inside with strangers because this pandemic taught us too many people don't care about anyone else. 

If I end up with COVID the experts say I can have it but have no symptoms. If I do get sick, it won't be like it was with ending up in the hospital or dying. The thing is, I don't want to be a threat to anyone else.

If you have PTSD or not, rejoice! You earned it!

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Think

The Blues Brothers

(Aretha Franklin) 

Think (think)

Think (think)

Think (think)

Think (think)

You think (think)

Think (think)

Think about it (think)

You better think (think)

Think about what you're trying to do to me

Yeah think (think, think)

Let your mind go, let yourself be free

Let's go back, let's go back

Let's go way on back when

I didn't even know you

You couldn't have been too much more than ten

I ain't no psychiatrist

I ain't no doctor with a degree

It don't take too much IQ

To see what you're doing to me

You better think (think)

Think about what you're trying to do to me

Yeah think (think, think)

Let your mind go, let yourself be free

Oh freedom (freedom)

Freedom (freedom)

Freedom

Yeah freedom

Freedom (freedom)

Freedom (freedom)

Freedom

Oh freedom

Hey, think about it!

You, think about it!

There ain't nothing you could ask

I could answer you but I won't (i won't)

I was gonna change but I'm not

To keep doing things I don't (don't)

Hey (think), think about what you're trying to do to me (what you trynna do)

Baby, think, let your mind go, let yourself be free

People walking around everyday

Playing games that they can score

Trying to make other people lose their minds

Well be careful you don't lose yours

Yeah think (think)

Think about what you're trying to do to me

Yeah, yeah-yeah yeah (think, think)

Let your mind go, let yourself be free

You need me (need me)

And I need you (don't you know)

Without each other

There ain't nothing people can do

Yeah yeah, think about me (what you're trying to do to me)

'Till the fall of the night

Think about it right now

Oh freedom (freedom)

Freedom (freedom)

Freedom

Yeah freedom

Freedom (freedom)

Freedom (freedom)

Freedom

Freedom!

Hey! You, think about it!

There ain't nothing you could ask

I could answer you but I won't (i won't)

I was gonna change but I'm not

If you keep doing things I don't

Yeah think (think)

Think about what you're trying to do to me (what you're trying to do)

Baby, think, let your mind go, let yourself be free

You need me (need me)

And I need you (don't you know)

Without each other

There ain't nothing people can do

Yeah yeah, think about me (what you're trying to do to me)

'Till the fall of the night

Think about it baby

Yeah ah-ah-ah (think about) (forgive me)

Forgive me (think about)(forgive me)

Yeah ah (think about) (forgive me) (think about)

Baby (think about) (forgive me)

Right now! (Think about) (forgive me)

Think about yeah, yeah, yeah

(Think about) yeah (forgive me) (think about) (forgive me)

(Think about) (forgive me)

Think about (think about)

Think about (think about) (forgive me)

This evening (think about) (forgive me)

This evening (think about) (forgive me)

Dont (?) The Blues brothers hey!

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Aretha Franklin / Ted White

Think lyrics © Springtime Music Inc 

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