What happens when music becomes more than entertainment—when it transforms into a lifeline for processing unbearable pain? DJ Mikey D's powerful journey reveals the science and soul behind music as therapy, offering a roadmap for anyone navigating trauma's aftermath.
Growing up with constant displacement and instability, Mikey found his anchor in music from age six onward. The science is clear: engaging with music triggers dopamine release while reducing cortisol, creating a neurochemical environment conducive to healing. But Mikey's story goes deeper—from ages 2 to 7, he endured sexual abuse by family members and his father's friends, with no safe person to tell. Music became his voice when words failed.
The conversation takes us through how different genres served distinct therapeutic purposes in his healing journey. Blues gave voice to grief, funk provided joy, and hip-hop created space for storytelling and processing trauma. This intuitive approach gained additional significance when military service added new trauma layers. Research shows veterans with childhood trauma are three times more likely to develop severe PTSD, making Mikey's resilience all the more remarkable.
What makes this story transcend personal triumph is its ripple effect. Studies reveal trauma survivors who become advocates reduce community stigma by up to 40%. Communities with strong artistic outlets show significantly higher engagement with mental health services. Mikey's journey demonstrates that healing isn't just about surviving—it's about creating pathways for others to thrive.
Ready to explore how creative expression might transform your own healing journey? Listen to this episode, then visit https://GreatDayRadio.com to sign up for our newsletter and learn about our upcoming Boot Camp featuring courses on DJing and podcasting. Your story of transformation could be next.
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Episode Transcript
You are listening to the People.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Station on GreatDayRadiocom.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Thank you for listening to Great Day Radio's
Relationship Podcast.
If you are on Instagram orTikTok, be sure you visit
GreatDayRadiocom to listen tothe full version of this podcast
.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This podcast explores something rather personal and
profoundly to our own DJ, mikeyD.
Okay, let us kick it off.
Music as therapy might soundlike a cliche, but when you look
at the science behind howrhythm and melody can rewire
trauma responses in the brain,well, that's exactly what we're
exploring today, through anincredible story of survival and
healing.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
The way music can transform trauma into triumph
really comes through in thisnarrative.
What strikes me most is how itbecame both a shield and a
bridge for healing during myupbringing.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Let's dive into these early years because they're
crucial to understanding thefull impact.
Growing up with constantdisplacement, moving from city
to city with a single fatherthat kind of instability leaves
deep marks.
Research shows that children inthese situations are five times
more likely to develop anxietyand depression.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
And yet somehow I found my anchor in music, from
the ages of six up to now.
This is when discovering DJing.
It's like I found my ownlanguage for processing pain.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
You know what's fascinating?
Studies show that engaging withmusic actually triggers the
release of dopamine and reducescortisol levels, essentially
providing a natural antidote totrauma.
In your case, this wasn't justabout entertainment.
It was literally rewiring thebrain's response to trauma.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
The musical influences I accumulated are
pretty remarkable, from blueslegend Coco Taylor to funk icon
Morris Day, to hip-hop legendslike Tupac.
How do you think these diversegenres shaped my healing process
?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well, each genre served a different emotional
purpose.
Blues gave voice to grief, funkprovided joy and release, and
hip-hop offered a platform forstorytelling and processing
trauma.
It's like you built your owntherapeutic toolkit through
these different musical styles.
The way you integrated musicinto your healing process really
challenges traditionaltherapeutic approaches.
(02:12):
It's like you created your ownform of cognitive behavioral
therapy through rhythm and sound.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
That's particularly powerful when you consider the
additional layers of trauma frommilitary service I had to
process.
The statistics on veteran PTSDare sobering About 20% of
veterans from Middle Eastconflicts develop PTSD Exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And what's often overlooked is how pre-existing
trauma can compoundcombat-related PTSD.
The hypervigilance fromchildhood abuse often
intensifies these symptoms.
Studies show that veterans withchildhood trauma are three
times more likely to developsevere PTSD.
In our interview to set up thisepisode, you mentioned
something rather disturbing andheartbreaking.
Do you care to discuss itbriefly?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Thank you, djd, for asking.
Sure, while I will not get intomuch detail for time sakes,
while I will not get into muchdetail for time sakes, the
reason for discussing my past iswith hopes of giving a voice to
those who feel like they do nothave one.
That goes for children andadults.
So, as a child, growing up fromage 2 until about age 7, I was
(03:18):
molested by what my fatherconsidered to be close friends.
Some were even family orso-called family members.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Wow, did you tell your father or any other family
members?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
No, I was too young to have developed that kind of
trust with family members.
Besides, a few were theperpetrators.
My father was not a greatlistener either and would often
call me a liar.
As I did have an activeimagination.
I would often tell stories as away to cope or even indicate to
the outside world what wasgoing on with me.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Thank you, Mikey D, for sharing it sounds like you
developed your own approaches todealing with the trauma and to
top that off with relationshipand war.
You are resilient, my friend.
Speaking of therapeuticapproaches, recent research from
the VA shows that creativeexpression therapies can reduce
PTSD symptoms by up to 40%.
Your intuitive use of music astherapy was actually ahead of
(04:11):
the clinical curve.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
That's fascinating statistics, especially
considering how I am using theseexperiences to advocate for
other veterans and traumasurvivors.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
The advocacy piece is crucial because we're looking
at some stark statistics.
Veterans face unemploymentrates 60% higher than civilians,
and those with PTSD oftenencounter significant
discrimination in the workplace.
Your story helps challengethese stigmas.
The ripple effect of Mikey'sinfluence must be significant,
especially in communities wheremental health support is
(04:43):
traditionally stigmatized.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
You're right and the data backs this up, especially
in communities where mentalhealth support is traditionally
stigmatized.
You're right and the data backsthis up.
Communities with strongartistic outlets show a 30%
higher rate of engagement withmental health services.
It's like music becomes thisgateway to broader healing.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
The way you describe finding your community in the
music industry reallydemonstrates how healing can
come from unexpected places, andthat's what makes your story so
powerful.
It's not just about individualtriumph.
Studies show that traumasurvivors who become advocates
help reduce stigma in theircommunities by up to 40%.
While you might not be thinkingabout it, you are literally
changing the narrative aroundtrauma and healing.
Looking at the whole picture,your journey really shows how
(05:24):
personal healing can transforminto community impact, doesn't
it?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Absolutely right.
The research is clearCommunity-based healing
approaches are twice aseffective as individual therapy
alone.
I hope my story isn't justinspiring.
It's a blueprint for collectivehealing through creative
expression.
And that might be the mostvaluable lesson here how
individual resilience cancatalyze community
(05:48):
transformation.
Looking ahead, this kind ofstory challenges us to rethink
how we approach trauma healing.
The integration of creativeexpression with traditional
therapy could revolutionizemental health treatment,
especially for complex traumasurvivors.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
It really shows that healing isn't just about
surviving.
It's about finding ways tothrive and help others along the
way, and that's the keytakeaway Trauma doesn't have to
define us.
With the right tools andsupport, it can become the
foundation for somethingtransformative.
The science supports it, thestories prove it and the impact
ripples out far beyondindividual healing.
(06:26):
Thank you, mikey, for sharing apart of your life that those
who are or have been dealingwith the level of trauma you
have endured in your lifetime.
I truly hope that it reachesothers, that it can empower to
step out of the darkness andseek help.
Any final thoughts, mikey?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
While the impact of childhood molestation is
profound, many survivors findpathways to healing through
therapeutic intervention,support groups and personal
resilience.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
The trauma associated with childhood molestation is
far-reaching, affecting mentalhealth relationships and overall
quality of life in adulthood.
And overall quality of life inadulthood.
It is imperative for society toprovide survivors with access
to resources and support systemsthat foster recovery and allow
them to lead fulfilling lives.
Continued research and advocacyare necessary to bring about
(07:16):
understanding, policy changesand more effective interventions
to aid those affected by suchdevastating experiences.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Okay, folks, that is a wrap.
Thank you for your support andlove affected by such
devastating experiences togreatdayradiocom.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
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Also, with our successfulpodcast, many have asked if we
(08:02):
would offer courses on many ofthe topics we discuss.
Stay locked in, as we welcomeour all-new Great Day Radio Boot
Camp.
In it, you will have access tolessons that will help you
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You are listening to the best podcast from the USA to
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