How a Santa Fe veteran is using music to heal others with trauma – KOAT New Mexico
It’s something we see and hear about all too often. Veterans and their struggles with mental health. “They tend to try to keep things inside. They tend to try to numb the pain,” Allen Hayes, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said.According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 7 out of every 100 veterans will have post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their life.Like Hayes, who struggles with the mental health condition day in and day out. “There’s a photo of me getting ready to go fly,” he said. “I always keep that photo around, because I see how stressed I looked in that picture.”Hayes served in the military for eight years and even took two trips to Iraq. A place where he experienced everything. From being shot at by snipers to being in close contact with chemical weapons. All moments he brought back to the Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo.”I was more jumpy. I was easily agitated. I was nervous,” Hayes said. “That was when I knew that a part of me had changed.”The Air Force veteran soon decided to get the help he needed. First, it started with getting a service dog named Cash. Then, it involved jumping back into a passion he discovered early on.Making music.”I bootstrap myself with my own therapy, just by being creative and being expressive. Just really talking, singing, and writing about the things that might be hard for me. For some reason, it’s easier for it to come out of my soul in the form of music, rather than trying to talk to a therapist,” Hayes said.His home studio in Santa Fe is just a reflection of his hard work. From guitars to music programs, he stays focused. Not just making songs to help himself, but others. A goal he’s had in mind since the very beginning.”To get my music out there and really promote,” he said. “Veterans, first responders, and everybody that’s going through PTSD and trauma.”And Hayes isn’t giving up. With several songs already streaming on Spotify, and frequent visits to Nashville, he’s hoping to make it big. But not without an important message along the way.”I’m doing my best, and that’s really what I would recommend to every veteran. Is to just do your best and don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help,” Hayes said. To learn more about the aspiring country music artists, follow him on Instagram and X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
It’s something we see and hear about all too often. Veterans and their struggles with mental health.
“They tend to try to keep things inside. They tend to try to numb the pain,” Allen Hayes, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 7 out of every 100 veterans will have post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their life.
Like Hayes, who struggles with the mental health condition day in and day out.
“There’s a photo of me getting ready to go fly,” he said. “I always keep that photo around, because I see how stressed I looked in that picture.”
Hayes served in the military for eight years and even took two trips to Iraq.
A place where he experienced everything. From being shot at by snipers to being in close contact with chemical weapons.
All moments he brought back to the Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo.
“I was more jumpy. I was easily agitated. I was nervous,” Hayes said. “That was when I knew that a part of me had changed.”
The Air Force veteran soon decided to get the help he needed.
First, it started with getting a service dog named Cash. Then, it involved jumping back into a passion he discovered early on.
Making music.
“I bootstrap myself with my own therapy, just by being creative and being expressive. Just really talking, singing, and writing about the things that might be hard for me. For some reason, it’s easier for it to come out of my soul in the form of music, rather than trying to talk to a therapist,” Hayes said.
His home studio in Santa Fe is just a reflection of his hard work.
From guitars to music programs, he stays focused. Not just making songs to help himself, but others.
A goal he’s had in mind since the very beginning.
“To get my music out there and really promote,” he said. “Veterans, first responders, and everybody that’s going through PTSD and trauma.”
And Hayes isn’t giving up.
With several songs already streaming on Spotify, and frequent visits to Nashville, he’s hoping to make it big.
But not without an important message along the way.
“I’m doing my best, and that’s really what I would recommend to every veteran. Is to just do your best and don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help,” Hayes said.
To learn more about the aspiring country music artists, follow him on Instagram and X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Source: News
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