David Wilson, a 38-year-old man from Basingstoke, UK, has gained a significant benefit from learning how to DJ, as it helped to revive his brain following an injury he sustained. Wilson was stabbed in the eye in 2005, causing brain damage which he had been in rehabilitation for. However, ever since he became interested in drum and bass and performing as MC 3-Bee, Wilson has experienced a revitalisation in his cognitive abilities.
DJ Emma Ryalls, mother of Girls Don’t Sync’s Sophia Violet, taught Wilson and 35-year-old Ashleigh Crowley, who suffered severe injuries in a car accident in 2007. As a consequence of Ryall’s involvement, the two men now perform regularly as DJs, finding creative expression and satisfaction which has had curative effects on their mental well-being.
Wilson, therefore, has discovered that the practice of DJing has had a substantial effect on his mental health as it has provided an outlet for his personal expression. Crowley has also found comparable results. In the UK, the vast majority of people, according to a study, found music to have a positive impact on their well-being and personal relationships. However, the benefits of music can be even more significant for people who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries, as they provide a medium through which to explore their creativity, leading to feelings of self-worth and a sense of purpose.
Therefore, in summarising the benefits of DJing, it may provide an overlooked therapeutic device which is available to everyone and may unlock hitherto unexplored areas of self-expression and creativity. The two men involved in this case have found DJing to have had a significant benefit on their well-being, demonstrating the potential for it to have a much wider positive impact
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