Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PTSD

Jason Kander raconte avec beaucoup de courage sa lutte contre le PTSD (Syndrome Post-Traumatique) contracté après avoir été en poste en Afghanistan. La clarté avec laquelle il décrit les symptômes en particulier ce qu'on appelle "emotional numbness" mais également les "dérives", le sentiment physique de se retrouver dans une situation traumatisante, l'impact sur ses proches et enfin se thérapie sont remarquables. Il décrit également comment un patient peut douter de sa maladie voire d'en être "digne". Ce témoignage correspond à ce que j'ai personnellement vécu après avoir été diagnostiqué comme souffrant d'un PTSD (en tant que dirigeant de startup donc dans des conditions bien différentes mais aussi fortes). Mon expérience est que nous sommes nombreux à en souffrir. Jason l'a vécu avec ses pairs qui sont des vétérans de la guerre, je l'ai évoqué à de nombreux dirigeants de startups. Ce que Jason nous explique est qu'il faut reconnaitre quand on a ce type de problème, l'admettre et le traiter. Trés chaleureusement recommandé.

This book is a raw, honest, and sometimes painful dive into the effects trauma can have on the human brain and body. Jason Kander pulls no punches. He is very open about his own flaws and insecurities. As someone who experienced an entirely different kind of trauma in my childhood, it was revealing to read so many of the same behaviors and feelings from someone with a completely different journey. If you have experienced trauma (from the military or otherwise), read this book. If you love someone who has experienced trauma, read this book. Seriously, just read this book!

Invisible Storm by Jason Kander, grabs your attention in the prologue and does not let up. I read the entire book in two sittings. I struggled to put it down and found the narrative absorbed my attention for days afterwards. As a mental health professional, I was skeptical that this autobiography would be able to accurately describe Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Kander’s description of PTSD is remarkable in that he both vividly describes his experience in a way that is easy to understand while clinically accurate. This alone makes this book not only different than a typical memoir but also a game changer in the world of PTSD. Also, I was concerned that the story of Kander’s political past would overshadow the importance of his high profile departure from public life to get life saving treatment. I can honestly say this concern was completely unnecessary. If you take everything in this book about politics out, it still remains a well written and important book. However, it is a party of Kander’s story and it makes it all the more remarkable. The addition of Diane Kander’s writings alongside her husband’s recollections provides a valuable perspective. This book is as much about their marriage as it is about Kander’s journey with PTSD. No one experiences mental illness alone and their willingness to open their struggles to the reader is de-stigmatizing on its own. Personally, this book resonated with me as a wife and daughter of service members who spent time serving during foreign wars. The epilogue is alone eye opening and will stay with me for a long time. This book will save relationships but more importantly it will save lives. I highly recommend everyone take the time to read this book. Buy a copy and gift it to the veterans and their families in your life.

Let me start off by saying that I only have a passive interest in politics. Additionally, while I'm supportive of our military, I do not have any immediate family members who have been in the military or considered joining the military. All that to say, I wouldn't have picked up a book that at face value featured politics and the military so prevalently if it weren't for a request to participate in this pre-read of the book. Which means, I would have missed out on one fascinating, emotional story that was truly difficult to put down once I got started. This is an important book about mental health, told through an oftentimes entertaining, roller coaster of a story. There were times in this book that I felt out of breath myself as I read the non-stop, exhaustive pace that Kander kept up, especially during his political career. The openness and vulnerability that the author shows in describing how he continually battled guilt and shame is inspiring. I hope it reaches more people and continues to make it safer and more "normal" to talk about these mental health issues in the open. As Kander shares about how his internal minimization of his time/impact in Afghanistan actually lead to much of the downward spiral he felt, I found myself reflecting on times when I subconsciously minimized another person's experience/trauma. Thinking, "I can't believe they're struggling with that; do they know how bad I/others have it?” can be quite damaging to the other person and oneself. Remembering that you can't fully feel what another person is feeling is an important lesson for me from this book. I also appreciated how the author's spouse, Diana, added her perspective throughout the book. Mental health issues impact the entire family and others around you. Hearing Diana’s first-hand account of her partner’s mental health struggles and the personal trauma she experienced was enlightening. I'm sure her accounts will also be helpful for other family members of those struggling with PTSD who happen to pick up this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is or has a family member struggling with diagnosed or undiagnosed PTSD. I also highly recommend this book to anyone who might work with people struggling with mental health issues, especially in high-pressure situations. Finally, I highly recommend this book to individuals who struggle with contentment and generally look for "the next achievement" to make them happy. Secondarily, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys interesting memoirs or the inner workings of political campaigns. Thanks Jason (and Diana) for vulnerably sharing your story with the world!