Prominent N.S. rugby coach uses podcast to show how exercise helps with mental illness

Chartered psychologist and rugby coach James Alder is sharing stories about the mental side of sport and training through a podcast called Trauma, Training & Transformation.

Alder grew up in the small, rugby-crazed town of Wigan, England. He eventually became the men’s rugby coach at Acadia University.

After 26 years in the British military and a tour in Iraq, Alder was medically discharged in 2015 because of PTSD.

He says his infantry training focused on preparing for scenarios like searching for weapons, ammunition and explosives. But no one talked about the mental effects.

“How are you mentally going to cope with loss of life?” Alder says. “Loss of teammates, loud explosions. You're not taught that because you're expected to find a way yourself.”

Since he was 16 years old he was involved in the army. Once his 26-year career was over he didn’t enjoy being around people because he didn’t trust them or his surroundings. In isolation, his cellphone reminded him of his traumatic and life-threatening experiences.

“That made me angry,” Alder says. “And the anger added to despair. I was angry at myself; angry at the environment. And then [I] became depressed about how low I felt.”

Alder tried counselling, cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, but none of them “really worked.”

The same year his army tenure concluded, he enrolled in the exercise science program at the University of Winchester. He also started his PhD which focused on utilizing physical exercise to help veterans on their path out of the military. He interviewed veterans who used treatment for PTSD and compared it to those who were physically active.

All the while, he was battling the same disorder his interviewees were fighting.

Alder met his partner in