On the outside, veteran Jason Kander had everything going for him: successful political career, lovely family, the respect of his peers. But on the inside, he was struggling: nightmares, depression and suicidal thoughts were constant companions. 

Jason joins us to talk about his new book, Invisible Storm, and what it really takes to go from post traumatic stress to post traumatic growth. (don’t let that “post traumatic growth” turn you away from this episode! There are no shortcuts to happiness here.) 



In this episode we cover: 


Why most returning vets believe that getting help is great - for other people. 
The concept of “stolen valor” and how it relates to treatment options for PTSD
How Jason used shame as a way to give himself the illusion of control 
A really helpful golf club analogy to describe the difference between deployment and civilian life
What “redemptive heroism” is, and why there’s a much better way to manage PTSD
Every trauma is valid trauma: avoiding the temptation of comparing emotional injury
How saying “wow that was really f*cked up” makes things better - for everyone





Announcement: want to become a grief-informed therapist? Registration is open now for Megan Devine’s 6 month grief care professional program. Details at this link. 



Notable quotes: 

“Therapy for me was a lot like going to graduate school, but it was just a graduate program in my brain.” - Jason Kander



About our guest: Jason Kander joined the Army National Guard in 2005 after getting a law degree at Georgetown University. He deployed in 2006 to Afghanistan, where his mission was to assess the corruption levels of former Afghan warlords and government leaders.



Ten years after serving in Afghanistan, Jason Kander was a rising star in the Democratic Party, exploring a presidential run. But outside of the political spotlight, he was racked by nightmares, depression and suicidal thoughts. His new book, Invisible Storm, shares the story of his experience with PTSD, and his hopes for anyone who’s survived trauma. 

Jason is the president of the Veterans Community Project, a national nonprofit organization, and the host of Majority 54, one of the nation's most popular political podcasts. 





Additional resources



Learn about the Veterans Community Project



Follow Jason Kander on social media @jasonkander

The book Jason mentioned is Tribe by Sebastian Junger





Get in touch:



Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of Here After with Megan Devine. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, send in your questions, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can’t be made right. 



Have a question, comment, or a topic you’d like us to cover? call us at (323) 643-3768 or visit megandevine.co



For more information, including clinical training and consulting, visit us at www.Megandevine.co



For grief support & education, follow us at @refugeingrief on IG, FB, TW, and @hereafterpod on TT



Check out Megan’s best-selling books - It’s Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed

On the outside, veteran Jason Kander had everything going for him: successful political career, lovely family, the respect of his peers. But on the inside, he was struggling: nightmares, depression and suicidal thoughts were constant companions. Jason joins us to talk about his new book, Invisible Storm, and what it really takes to go from post traumatic stress to post traumatic growth. (don’t let that “post traumatic growth” turn you away from this episode! There are no shortcuts to happiness here.) 
 
In this episode we cover: 
 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why most returning vets believe that getting help is great - for other people. </li>
<li aria-level="1">The concept of “stolen valor” and how it relates to treatment options for PTSD</li>
<li aria-level="1">How Jason used shame as a way to give himself the illusion of control </li>
<li aria-level="1">A really helpful golf club analogy to describe the difference between deployment and civilian life</li>
<li aria-level="1">What “redemptive heroism” is, and why there’s a much better way to manage PTSD</li>
<li aria-level="1">Every trauma is valid trauma: avoiding the temptation of comparing emotional injury</li>
<li aria-level="1">How saying “wow that was really f*cked up” makes things better - for everyone</li>
</ul>
 
Announcement: want to become a grief-informed therapist? Registration is open now for Megan Devine’s 6 month grief care professional program. <a href="https://catalog.pesi.com/sales/bh_c_001627_megandevinegriefcarecert_megandevine-478674">Details at this link. </a>
 
Notable quotes: 
“Therapy for me was a lot like going to graduate school, but it was just a graduate program in my brain.” - Jason Kander
 
About our guest: Jason Kander joined the Army National Guard in 2005 after getting a law degree at Georgetown University. He deployed in 2006 to Afghanistan, where his mission was to assess the corruption levels of former Afghan warlords and government leaders.
 
Ten years after serving in Afghanistan, Jason Kander was a rising star in the Democratic Party, exploring a presidential run. But outside of the political spotlight, he was racked by nightmares, depression and suicidal thoughts. His new book, Invisible Storm, shares the story of his experience with PTSD, and his hopes for anyone who’s survived trauma. 
Jason is the president of the <a href="https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/">Veterans Community Project</a>, a national nonprofit organization, and the host of <a href="https://www.wondermedianetwork.com/originals/majority-54">Majority 54</a>, one of the nation's most popular political podcasts. 
 
Additional resources
 
Learn about the <a href="https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/">Veterans Community Project</a>
 
Follow Jason Kander on social media <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jasonkander/">@jasonkander</a>
The book Jason mentioned is <a href="http://www.sebastianjunger.com/tribe-by-sebastian-junger">Tribe</a> by Sebastian Junger
 
Get in touch:
 
Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of Here After with Megan Devine. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, send in your questions, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can’t be made right. 
 
Have a question, comment, or a topic you’d like us to cover? call us at (323) 643-3768 or visit megandevine.co
 
For more information, including clinical training and consulting, visit us at www.Megandevine.co
 
For grief support &amp; education, follow us at @refugeingrief on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/refugeingrief/">IG</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/refugeingrief">FB</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/refugeingrief">TW</a>, and @hereafterpod on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@refugeingrief">TT</a>
 
Check out Megan’s best-selling books - <a href="http://refugeingrief.com/book">It’s Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed</a>

Life is full of difficult things, from tiny everyday disappointments to life-altering events. Everyone’s at least a little bit Not OK, something grief expert and psychotherapist Megan Devine knows from the inside out. In wide ranging, insightful, deep conversations, Megan talks with people about their often invisible losses - and what they’ve learned about being seen and supported in difficult times. 

With guests pulled from the front lines of entertainment, medicine, education, and activism, the conversations in It’s OK that You’re Not OK are funny, complex, emotional, and hopeful - maybe not your typical dinner party topics, but none of us are entirely OK, and it’s time we start talking about that.

New episodes each and every Monday, from the author of the best-selling book, It’s OK That You’re Not OK, and iHeartMedia. Find Megan online at @refugeingrief & follow the show @ItsOKPod

Life is full of difficult things, from tiny everyday disappointments to life-altering events. Everyone’s at least a little bit Not OK, something grief expert and psychotherapist Megan Devine knows from the inside out. In wide ranging, insightful, deep conversations, Megan talks with people about their often invisible losses - and what they’ve learned about being seen and supported in difficult times. 
With guests pulled from the front lines of entertainment, medicine, education, and activism, the conversations in It’s OK that You’re Not OK are funny, complex, emotional, and hopeful - maybe not your typical dinner party topics, but none of us are entirely OK, and it’s time we start talking about that.
New episodes each and every Monday, from the author of the best-selling book, It’s OK That You’re Not OK, and iHeartMedia. Find Megan online at @refugeingrief &amp; follow the show @ItsOKPod

It’s OK That You’re Not OK with Megan Devine

Other People Have It Worse: Veteran Jason Kander on PTSD & recognizing you need help

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1bca964d-c6bd-4111-85bc-af38017a0bc4/transcript

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