Diversity Within & National PTSD Awareness Day: Arnold Haynes
In early 2023, Jennifer Haynes’ company was starting celebrations for Black History Month. One of the topics for the month pivoted on Black individuals who have overcome and persevered. At that moment, she went on LinkedIn and shared a personal story. There was no better person, she thought, than to talk about her husband, Arnold.
Arnold Haynes, Survey Manager at 极品探花, is a hero to many, and through his story, we hope you are encouraged by everything he’s been through and all he has accomplished.
Haynes’ family has a rich history of service. From his father serving in the military to his uncles and other family members, he knew when he came of age that he wanted to serve in the military. In his mind, he knew that he would eventually be a “lifer.”
In 2003, Haynes was stationed at Fort Carson, just south of Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was there that his team received immediate orders to go to Iraq.
“Having been one of the first brigades there,” said Haynes, “we all didn’t know what to expect.”
It was November 6, 2003, when his team hopped in the open convoy, and he took the driver's seat. As they began on a mission, Haynes heard a beeping noise in the rear vehicle, and in an instant, his life changed forever.
After two days in a German hospital and having undergone multiple surgeries, Haynes learned that an improvised explosive device hit the left side of the car, leaving one soldier deceased. Haynes was impacted by this explosion in multiple ways, as he lost sight in his left eye and had a severe case of PTSD.
Having been medically retired from the military, Haynes began his life as a civilian, which was much more difficult than he could have ever imagined. At first, Haynes felt a lot of anger and didn’t understand why. Under the impression that he always had to have a “tough guy exterior,” he decided that he could manage everything himself.
“I had crippling anxiety at times, and that anxiety held me back sometimes since it wasn’t managed,” said Haynes.
Whether it was dealing with a stressful day at work or just any little thing in his life, Haynes’ brain could come to a halt, and it was hard for him to express himself to people so that they could understand rather than make assumptions about him.
According to the , most people who go through a traumatic event will not develop PTSD; however, about six out of every 100 people or 6% of the population, will have PTSD at some point in their lives. In 2020 alone, over 13 million Americans were diagnosed with PTSD.
PTSD is more common than most realize, transcending any color, religion or sexual orientation. Everyday occurrences instantly trigger many individuals throughout the US due to past trauma.
When asked how one can receive help, Haynes noted how important it is to engage your support system in your healing. His asking his family members and friends about what they were seeing in him allowed him to communicate how he was feeling.
“Traumatic experiences can be common,” said Haynes. “Whatever trauma you’ve dealt with in your life, it can stifle your growth if you don’t deal with it properly.”
In a time when he thought he was okay, it was at that moment that Haynes needed support more than ever. Today, June 27, we recognize National PTSD Awareness Day and encourage everyone to reach out to friends and family members that you believe are suffering, as we all know that we can’t do life alone.
With the help of his wife and friends, Arnold is where he is today; just like his story, we want that freedom for you. If you find yourself struggling in any way, 极品探花 has resources, such as LifeMatters, to assist you in all your needs.
We want to thank Jennifer Haynes for bringing Arnold’s story to life through her LinkedIn post and for Arnold to have the bravery and share his story with the 极品探花 Family. We appreciate you, Arnold and the sacrifices you made for our country. Your bravery both on and off the field do not go unnoticed.
Additionally, if you find yourself needing help or you want to learn more about PTSD, please utilize the resources below.
- PTSD Alliance-
- National Center for PTSD-
- PTSD Coach App-
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network-
- Help Guide-
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