Night Stalker's Raw Journey: High-Stakes Missions, Panic Disorder Grounding, and Breaking Stigma Post-Army | Ep. 264 | Pt. 2

Welcome to Part 2 of Episode 264 of the Mike Drop podcast, hosted by Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL and renowned dog trainer. In this gripping continuation, Mike sits down with Nico Kelly Nick O'Kelly, a former Green Beret who transitioned into an elite Night Stalker pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Kelly is also the author of the book Stigma: Breaking the Stigma, which delves into his personal battles with mental health.

Listeners will find an unfiltered, raw conversation covering Kelly's high-stakes military career—from his warm reception back in Savannah as a new 160th pilot, intense training trips across the U.S., and his first combat deployment in the CENTCOM region, to the adrenaline-fueled details of real-world missions like dusty landings and contingencies. The episode takes a deep dive into Kelly's ongoing struggles with anxiety, debilitating dizzy spells, depression, and fleeting suicidal thoughts, which persisted through his pipeline and deployments but were often masked by adrenaline and focus. You'll hear about his post-deployment knee surgery that grounded him, leading to a misdiagnosis of narcolepsy, eventual identification of panic disorder, and his journey tapering off medications like Effexor while incorporating natural protocols like cold plunging and neurofeedback. Kelly shares his transition to civilian life as a financial planner specializing in veterans, insights on breaking mental health stigmas in elite units, and optimistic views on crypto and long-term investing. This episode is a powerful blend of military grit, vulnerability, and practical advice on resilience, making it essential for veterans, first responders, and anyone navigating mental health challenges or career pivots.

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