From Reality TV to Rock Bottom to Recovery Advocate: The Story of Jason Wahler

Today’s guest is Jason Wahler. Jason is a popular reality TV personality and recovery advocate, who is dedicated to raising awareness about substance abuse and mental health. In today’s episode, Jason shares his personal journey with addiction and how his very public relapse a few years ago prompted him to make significant changes to maintain his sobriety. He talks about detoxing from drugs while his wife was giving birth to their first daughter, and offers advice for those with loved ones struggling with addiction. Jason also discusses rebuilding his self-worth, how he has forgiven himself and rebuilt trust with others, and the self-destructive nature of addiction. Jason lives in Nashville and we also discuss how he is managing his mental health following the horrific tragedy that occurred a few weeks ago.   Thanks to today’s sponsor:   Paleovalley:   https://paleovalley.com/   Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 15% off your order What to Listen For: 00:00 Intro 01:32 Nashville tragedy (Jason lives there) 04:44 What’s the most difficult situation he has faced?  06:54 Changes he’s made to maintain his sobriety  10:20 What caused his mental health struggles as a kid?  11:35 Going on reality TV while battling addiction  14:35 When did things get bad? 18:00 Why do addicts self-destruct?  20:24 How did his wife help support him/hold him accountable 22:07 Detoxing in the same hospital where his wife was giving birth  24:41 Lying about sobriety   29:19 What was rock bottom?  32:24 Being honest about his relapse on social media  35:05 Rebuilding his self worth  38:37 Forgiveness 41:39 Rebuilding trust with his family 42:57 You’re a product of your environment  Episode Resources: Jason | Instagram, Website     ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.  SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices