Jason Kander: A Story of Service, Mental Health, PTSD, and Recovery
Aug 23, 2023
auto_awesome
Former Missouri Secretary of State and veteran of the United States Army, Jason Kander, discusses his decision to join the military, life in Afghanistan, dealing with PTSD and suicidal thoughts, using meditation, and his political career and life today.
Jason Kander discusses his decision to join the military and the challenges of serving in Afghanistan.
Jason Kander shares his experience as a military intelligence officer, including investigating corruption and navigating risks.
Jason Kander courageously opens up about his battle with undiagnosed PTSD, the importance of therapy, and how WHOOP helps him track and improve his physical and mental well-being.
Deep dives
Introduction and Decision to Join the Army
Jason Kander discusses his decision to join the United States Army in the aftermath of 9/11. Inspired by his family's military background and a sense of duty, he enrolled as a military intelligence officer. He shares his initial excitement and the challenges of serving in Afghanistan, describing the barren landscape and the realities of military life.
Investigating Corruption and Espionage
In the podcast, Jason Kander opens up about his experience investigating corruption, espionage, and drug trafficking during his time in Afghanistan. He highlights the excitement of working as a military intelligence officer, often feeling like a cowboy, gathering intelligence and developing relationships with informants. He also discusses the challenges of assessing risks, navigating language barriers, and constantly being on high alert for potential dangers.
PTSD and Mental Health Journey
Jason Kander courageously shares his battle with undiagnosed PTSD and the impact it had on his mental health. He recounts the progression of symptoms, including insomnia, nightmares, hyper-vigilance, emotional numbness, and depression. He emphasizes the importance of therapy in his journey towards post-traumatic growth and shares how he now manages his mental health. He also discusses the role Woop played in helping him track and improve his physical and mental well-being.
Recognizing the Need for Therapy
The speaker shares their experience of overworking and coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by throwing themselves into their political career. They eventually realize the importance of therapy after reaching a breaking point in their mental health.
The Healing Journey through Therapy
The speaker discusses the process of therapy, including prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy. They explain how therapy helps them confront and reframe their traumatic experiences, leading to a better understanding of themselves and the realization that they are not alone in their struggles.
On this week’s episode, Will Ahmed, the Founder and CEO of WHOOP, is joined by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander. Before being elected Secretary of State in 2012, he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Jason is also a veteran of the United States Army achieving the rank of Captain during his service as a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan. Will and Jason will discuss Jason’s decision to join the military (3:12), life in Afghanistan (5:10), Jason’s daily routine in the service (13:25), dealing with and talking about PTSD (15:50), what led him to take the first step and get help (25:10), dealing with suicidal thoughts and therapy (30:10), using meditation (36:45), how Jason uses WHOOP (38:28), Jason’s political career and life today (46:55), and Jason’s book and podcast (56:55).
