What The World Needs Now Is Healing

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
December 22, 2020

My job has been to help people understand how much power they do have over PTSD, give them hope of healing and then get them to go to professionals who can offer more help than I can. If they fear it, they will not seek help. That is why the tagline of PTSD Patrol is Clearing The Way to #TakeBackYourLife.

That is the earliest post I could find that was still live online. While it goes back to 2005, I started working on PTSD online in 1993. I started writing about it in 1984, 2 years after researching it began for me, and a lifetime of surviving events. So far, it has been over 10 events, not counting the hurricanes I went through while living in Florida. I know what it does from living through them but I know more from living with my husband and leaning all I could about how to change our lives.

When the Pulse Nightclub massacre happened, I was not far away, and remember what happened, how people responded with love after this act of hate destroyed so many lives. The thing is, it kept destroying lives, including those of the first responders.

I was only able to help a few of them, because no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I posted, my work was hard to find. To this day, whenever I read about people suffering with PTSD, instead of healing from it, my heart breaks!

Don't let more hearts break because they think there is no hope for them after surviving something that could have killed them. Help me give them the information and support they need so they get on the right road to find the help they need from groups and providers!

What The World Needs Now

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No not just for some, but for everyone

Lord, we don't need another mountain

There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb

There are oceans and rivers enough to cross

Enough to last 'til the end of time

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some, but for everyone

Lord, we don't need another meadow

There are cornfields and wheatfields enough to grow

There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine

Oh listen, Lord, if you want to know

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some, oh, but just for every, every, everyone

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: David Hal / Bacharach Burt F

What the World Needs Now Is Love lyrics © New Hidden Valley Music Co., New Hidden Valley Music Company, Casa David Music, New Hidden Valley Music Co, Bmg Rights Management (uk) Ltd (hal David) 

Broadway For Orlando

'What The World Needs Now Is Love’ is the charity single sung by Broadway for Orlando, an all-star group of artists from the theatre and pop world: Sara Bareilles, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Sarah Jessica Parker, and many more.

The single was created to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting massacre at the Pulse Nightclub.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of the song will benefit the LGBT Community Center of Central Florida.

Find some comfort here

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

December 21, 2020

Today was not a good day. I was thinking about how lousy this years has been for everyone, especially people who had already been living with PTSD. I set out to see what the newest numbers were, knowing the trauma of the pandemic would increase the need for this work. Sadly, I was shockingly right.

These are the numbers from COVID-19 as of December 21, 2020

If that should not get you to think about what else is coming with this pandemic, then consider this. Predictors of PTSD: type and severity of trauma exposure

It is important to note that the majority of people exposed to trauma recover within 30 days and do not develop PTSD. The type and severity of trauma exposure strongly predicts development of PTSD, with perpetrated interpersonal violence having much higher rates of PTSD than exposures like transportation collisions, fires, and natural disasters like hurricanes, etc. Motor vehicle crashes and natural disasters are associated with ~10% rates of development of PTSD, being in a combat zone ~18%, physical assault or experiencing heavy combat ~30%, and sexual assault and torture up to 50%.
It is often underappreciated that medical events and procedures associated with life threat, even when they are successful, are associated with relatively high rates of PTSD development. For example, myocardial infarct / acute coronary syndrome is associated with up to 15% rate of PTSD, as is unexpected discharge of cardiac defibrillation devices. Major thoracic surgeries such as cardiac aretery bypass graft (CABG) and open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, even when scheduled and expected, are also associated with ~20% rates of de novo PTSD.
Particularly relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged treatment in intensive care units (ICUs) such as for sepsis, and in particular, intubation, are associated with some of the highest rates of medical PTSD, with 35% of ICU survivors having clinically significant PTSD symptoms 2 years subsequent to the ICU care. Thus, in addition to “post-intubation syndrome” in survivors, once a patient is medically stabilized, it is important to assess and provide care for psychiatric responses like PTSD that are expected to be common.

The last update on PTSD in the US is 8 million.

U.S. PTSD statistics
About 8 million adults in the U.S. have PTSD during a given year. (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2019)
PTSD affects more than twice as many women (10%) as men (4%). (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2019)
70% of adults in the U.S. experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. (Sidran Institute, 2018)
The lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the U.S. was 6.8% as of 2001-2003. (Harvard Medical School, 2007)

Which means we're headed into landslide territory!

I don't like doom and gloom but right now, we have to face the gloom so that less people will have to face doom alone. At the very least, we can give them something to fight back with.

The only appropriate song I could think of is Arms Of The Angels...if you share this work, the you could be an angel to those who are searching for hope that they can heal!

Angel

Song by Sarah McLachlan

Spend all your time waiting

For that second chance

For a break that would make it okay

There's always some reason

To feel not good enough

And it's hard at the end of the day

I need some distraction

Oh a beautiful release

Memories seep from my veins

Let me be empty

Oh and weightless and maybe

I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel

Fly away from here

From this dark cold hotel room

And the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage

Of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line

And everywhere you turn

There's vultures and thieves at your back

And the storm keeps on twisting

You keep on building the lies

That you make up for all that you lack

It don't make no difference

Escaping one last time

It's easier to believe

In this sweet madness

Oh this glorious sadness

That brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel

Fly away from here

From this dark cold hotel room

And the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage

Of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort here

You're in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort here

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Sarah Mclachlan / Rudy Perez

Angel lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Tyde Music, Rubet Music Publishing Inc. 

 PTSD Patrol bonus post!

Music has the power to travel through generations...and Janis Joplin proved it, along with most of the music we listened to!

I was on YouTube putting up the video for today when I saw this! The were introduced to Janis Joplin and their reaction is priceless!

FIRST TIME HEARING Janis Joplin - Piece Of My Heart REACTION

So what do you want someday soon?

PTSD Patrol

Kathie Costos

December 20, 2020

I haven't done a post in a while about veterans but this morning as I was searching for the song for the day, Someday Soon by Judy Collins came into my head. Once I listened to the lyrics, I remembered why.

This song came out during the Vietnam War. My husband listened to oldies, just like me and I remembered when I heard this song, I was thinking it could have been about us. No, he wasn't in the rodeo but as the years went by, my parents had a hard time accepting the fact that he did make me happy even though my heart was breaking.

Seeing him suffer from PTSD, and doing whatever I could to help him, broke my heart. Eventually, they started to tell me to get a divorce, even though my Dad was a veteran and spotted it in him the night they met. It was a tough road we were on, but looking back, it was a trip so worth taking.

"My parents can not stand him

Cause he rides the rodeo

My father says that

He will leave me crying

I would follow him right down

The toughest road I know

Someday soon, going with him

Someday soon"

So what do you want someday soon?

Some people want to go back to the way their lives were before the pandemic spread out across the world. They want to go out to eat, get together with family, friends and enjoy concerts, plays, parties and go out to the movie theaters. They hang onto hope that will all be possible again...someday soon.

Some people want to hit the lottery, so they play their numbers or buy their scratch tickets faithfully because they are sure it can happen to them. It gives them hope as they dream about what they'll do with the money....someday soon. 

For some with PTSD, your someday soon can be living a happier life and it can happen. It can happen if you are will to change what you can..and as the prayer from AA goes, wisdom to access the things you cannot change. What gives you hope about what can come with your someday soon?

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD

Judy Collins Someday Soon

There's a young man that I know

His age is twenty-one

Comes from down

In southern Colorado

Just out of the service

And he's looking for his fun

Someday soon, going with him

Someday soon

My parents can not stand him

Cause he rides the rodeo

My father says that

He will leave me crying

I would follow him right down

The toughest road I know

Someday soon, going with him

Someday soon

And when he comes to call

My pa ain't got a good word to say

Guess it's cause he's just

As wild in the younger days

So blow, you old Blue Northern

Blow my love to me

He's driving in tonight

From California

He loves his damned old rodeo

As much as he loves me

Someday soon, going with him

Someday soon

But when he comes to call

My pa ain't got a word to say

Guess it's cause he's just

As wild in the younger days

Blow, you old Blue Northern

Blow my love to me

He's driving in tonight

From California

He loves his damned old rodeo

As much as he loves me

Someday soon, going with him

Someday soon

Someday soon, going with him

Someday soon

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Tyson Ian

Someday Soon lyrics © Four Strong Winds Ltd. 

Out Of My Darkest Hours

PTSD Patrol
Kahtie Costos
December 19, 2020

This may make you think I'm insane, but if you've been reading these posts or watching the videos....you already figured that one out.

When things were really hard, I could't talk to my friends, because they didn't want know what PTSD was. I would listen to them complain about the finest things, and get so upset as if they were complaining about something enormous...and I'd walk away knowing the difference between ego being bent out of shape, and what it was like to see someone you love suffering.

I couldn't talk to my family as much as I wanted to, because they'd usually listen, then tell me I should get a divorce. There were times when I couldn't brush off their lousy advice, so I wouldn't even open the door to it happening.

I would go for rides and listen to the radio. Most songs are love songs, which was something I didn't really want to hear, even the ones about love gone bad, didn't comfort me.

Then I found myself singing them to heaven. All my life, faith was as natural as breathing. I knew I could talk to Jesus no matter what I was going through, because of everything He went through.

One of the songs that gave me comfort,  was Gloria Estefan, I See Your Smile, especially this part.

'Cause I know I have to do this

Would you hold my hand right through it

'Cause when I close my eyes

I still can see your smile

It's bright enough to light my life

Out of my darkest hour

Please believe it's true

When I tell you I love you 

It was written about the relationship she had with her husband in the beginning, but for me, it reminds of my relationship with my husband as much as it did with the one I had to Jesus. 

I wasn't alone when I talked to Him. I could feel His smile and find peace in my soul, so I knew I was loved. He was the Light in my darkest hours because He filled me with hope.

No easy days, but He made it easier. No quick miracles, but He gave me strength and patience until mini-miracles turned into big ones.

He guided me to where I could learn about what my husband was going through, and what I went through. I gained the power to change by learning what was possible and how to find peace with what was impossible to change. Songs like this got us through all these years....we met in 1982.

Find something that gives you comfort, even if you have to tweak the meaning for what you need out of it.

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

#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from PTSD

Gloria Estefan, I See Your Smile

I, get a little tongue twisted

Every time I talk to you

When I see you

And I'm so glad that you just missed it

The way I stared

To memorize your face.

To kiss you in my mind

Love you all the time

'Cause when I close my eyes

I still can see your smile

It's bright enought to light my life

Out of my darkest hour

Please believe it's true

When I tell you I love you

I've taken too many chances

Searching for the truth in love

That's in my heart

Tell me if I made the wrong advances

Tell me if I've made you feel ashamed

'Cause I know I have to do this

Would you hold my hand right through it

'Cause when I close my eyes

I still can see your smile

It's bright enough to light my life

Out of my darkest hour

Please believe it's true

When I tell you I love you

I had to let you know

Just what would happen

Yes, I had to let

You know the truth

I know I've got to do this

Would you hold my

Hand right through it

Would you

'Cause when I close my eyes

I still can see your smile

It's bright enough to light my life

Out of my darkest hour

'Cause when I close my eyes

I still can see your smile

It's bright enough to light my life

Out of my darkest hour

I know this

Is true when I

Tell you I love you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jon Secada / Miguel Morejon

I See Your Smile lyrics © Foreign Imported Prod. And Publishing