PTSD Patrol Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Suicide Broke The Silence

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
August 9, 2020

Todays feature video is about a firefighter who had PTSD but couldn't find what he needed to heal. He sent out a plea for others to find the help they needed before he ended his own life. 

The story of Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief David Dangerfield is one of losing hope at the same time holding onto hope that his death could make a difference for those he left behind. 

His life ended in 2016, but his legacy goes on as more and more understand that PTSD is not just what military people get....#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

The story of Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief David Dangerfield from TC Palm news

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Firefighters and paramedics are mourning the death of a man who worked alongside them for nearly three decades.

Indian River County Sheriff deputies went to a wooded area off State Road 60 west of Interstate 95 about 10:30 p.m. Saturday following a 911 call from Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief David Dangerfield, Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Eric Flowers said.

Dangerfield had driven his pickup to mile marker 13 about midway between I-95 and Yeehaw Junction, Flowers said. Dangerfield told dispatchers where he could be found, Flowers said. Deputies located the pickup and found Dangerfield a short distance away in the woods, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Sheriff's Office said.

Emergency Services Director John King sent an email late Saturday night to Dangerfield's co-workers about his death, Assistant Chief Brian Burkeen said.

"It is with great sadness I share with you the passing of Battalion Chief David Dangerfield this evening," King wrote in the email to his firefighters and paramedics. "Please keep Dave’s immediate and extended family in your thoughts and prayers."

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!