After leaving the Navy, I was doing cocaine, popping pills, and drinking over a fifth of vodka a day. Then, I had a 'death experience' that changed everything.

Two photos of Shawn Ryan during his time as a Navy SEAL.

Courtesy of Shawn Ryan

• Shawn Ryan was a Navy SEAL for nearly six years, then joined the CIA.
• During these high-stress jobs, he was in a nearly constant fight-or-flight mode.
• After he left, he struggled to adapt to a normal life. He says a psychedelic experience helped.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor, and host of the "Shawn Ryan...