The other day I watched a documentary about the life of DJ AM (Adam Goldstein), a disc jockey that died of a drug relapse after 11 years of being sober. The documentary illustrated the struggles DJ AM experienced with his drug addiction and constant mental health battle to stay sober.
DJ AM used his passion for mixing music and Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) to reach sobriety. It was his daily commitment and faith in God that kept him sober. He once quoted, “Addiction is life-long and recovery has to be life-long, one has to be diligent to their program.”
A year before he died, DJ AM was in a plane crash and he was only one of two survivors. He quoted this about the experience:
I’ve prayed every night for the past 10 years. There’s a lot more to thank God for now. My philosophy is ‘live life to the fullest,’ I was saved for a reason. Maybe I’m going to help someone else. I don’t question it. All I know is, I’m thankful I’m still here.
After the crash, DJ AM struggled with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which was treated with prescribed medication. This resulted in his relapse and unfortunate death.
DJ AM made the best of his days alive. He was passionate about his music and helping others recover from their additions. In the end, DJ AM left a legacy that has inspired many.
Final Thoughts
DJ AM’s story is very inspiring because it shows his journey to self-discovery and all the bumps he went through to find inner peace. Until he found the right tools to be happy, he self-medicated to just get rid of the pain. Happiness is not the easiest emotion to get to, it takes a lot of work and courage. This man fought every day for that.
I didn’t know anything about DJ AM prior to this documentary, yet his story touched my heart deeply. Like DJ AM, it is my personal mission to help others find ways to just be happy, without using any harmful “quick happiness fixes”. Mental health and well-being is a practice, a constant exercise of the mind, body, and soul.
Managing mental health is so important to our personal happiness and well-being. If you feel that you or somebody you know needs help with mental health or addiction, please seek treatment by a trained professional. There are so many tools available to help with this. Do what works for you.
Here’s one final quote from DJ AM: “Feed the soul, starve the ego.”
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