Jason's Story
Early on in my Drifting career I thought to myself why is it I love this sport so much? Is it the attention seeking, ego feeding.. or just the adrenaline rush each time you learn something new or enter a corner that little bit faster or with more angle..
All I knew is I loved it and couldn't get enough for years.. until i reached the point i had to start asking the question to myself again when i got to the point of standing on podiums and not feeling anything..
I always worked for this moment but it turned out it was never about that moment, or the individual moments of adrenaline addiction.. it was something larger id buried deep within and drifting was just a therapy/release/a chance for me to shut my brain off and feel something in that moment. Something i could never do in normal day to day life. From showing excitement to some cool news, or receiving a gift on Christmas always felt like a forced reaction to not look like a complete weirdo for not being excited in moments like those..
It turns out I've been blocking emotions since I was a little kid.. It was my defense mechanism for my busy brain and big heart to avoid getting hurt. Or having these spikes of emotions I felt I couldn't regulate.
To be at the point of saying all this has taken some life changing moments and decisions. From committing to a relationship with my partner Dani for now 15 years, to having 3 kids, and the struggles I've faced from cycles of guilt/shame and sickness from blocking these emotions for years wanting to come out.
The only way I’ve been able to recognise these cycles has been from seeing Couples Counselors, Hypnotherapists, Holistic Healers/Therapists, Government funded Therapists, Life Coaches and I have to say most importantly going to Churches..
i put in the work each time i hit my lowest points. Giving myself new strategies each time so i had a chance of feeling these emotions and enjoying daily life and of course running a business of now 10 employees with the confidence of the direction and goals I want to achieve for them and myself.
This finally brings me to the mission.. why im bringing this back full circle to why i even started “Keep it Reet”
It was to get myself on the track and off the streets. It was to build my own community of like minded people. It was to grow and push the sport that had got me through some tough times and honestly been my therapy for so long. But now.. realising the importance of it but mainly the importance of self awareness and the struggles being masked by it and how similar we all are.. coming from the same backgrounds of some sort of abuse, large or small and just not being given the chance or tools to recognise certain emotions and how to deal/regulate them as a male that's so commonly told to stop crying or “man up”.
Keep it Reet's Mission
Back to the mission of Keep it Reet and the importance it brings me to spread awareness of all this and struggles of men's mental health and that it's not weak to speak. Share your emotions with close friends and family, or if not. To reach out to a neutral ground whether it's a lifeline or a therapist or even as simple as starting journaling to get it out of your head and on some paper.
Whether it started from extreme sports as a kid and led to drifting. Or started playing video games and led to going to the gym. We all deal with similar stories and situations and it's time to unravel what it is you're masking before it's too late.
I don't want any of my friends to end up in situations where they feel they are stuck and have no alternative solution to getting through their problems when they all come boiling up like Chris did.
So here we are, offering multiple types of helplines or strategies to get your journey started! If it begins with joining one of our communities but ends in you opening up to anyone and starting that conversation then that's fine. But we are here to support your journey no matter what and hope to see a new generation of ways we think and do things so we can all thrive and enjoy life as intended.
The Story of Chris DeJager
I want to bring Chris’ Legacy to our brand, we want people to feel heard and understood. That you can go and talk to someone, you can open up. There are people in our community that want to hear your story, want to know why you do what you do, they want to support you and that you’re not on your own.
- Jason Ferron
For those with the beast infiltrating your body temple, know that you’re not alone in this war, even though it feels it.
Know that you don’t have to wait for the cavalry to arrive, we’re already by your side, we just need you to give us a sign, a signal, a tap on the shoulder, a message you hesitate to send in the wee hours of the morning, we want to be a part of the battle, we want you to know you’re not alone, we want you to know in your core that you’re not a burden, you are wanted, you are loved and this isn’t your fault nor cross to bare alone – let your tribe of confidants in, let us help just as you would do for us where it the other way around.
- Chance
BetterHelp's network of more than 30,000 licensed therapists has helped over 5 million people take ownership of their mental health and work towards their personal goals. As the unmet need for mental health services continues to grow, BetterHelp is committed to expanding access to therapy globally.
Headspace helps thousands of young people access vital support through our headspace centres in communities across Australia, our online and phone counselling services, our vocational services, and our presence in schools.
Lifeline exists to ensure that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone. Our experience has shown us that it is through connection that we can find hope. We are available 24 hours a day to listen, without judgement to any person in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing crisis or longs to be heard.