Welcome to the Exciting
World of Sobriety!
I’m Ginny Dee—alcoholic, addict, and accidental globe-trotting optimist in active recovery. Getting to this place of freedom, clarity, and (mostly) serenity has been anything but easy—but it’s been worth every messy, magical, transformative step. And you know what really cracked my world open? Sober travel. It gave me perspective, purpose, and the courage to change everything.
This page is home to all the Sobriety Stuff I share:
- Personal stories from my recovery journey
- Tips for traveling while staying sober
- Resources, information, and frequently asked questions for fellow travelers on the sober path
Whether you’re a few days in or a few decades deep, simply sober-curious, or desperately looking for a lifeline—you are welcome here. You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. If I can claw my way toward healing, so can you.
And if you or someone you love is struggling, please don’t wait. Reach out. Ask questions. Send me a message. Or just breathe, and take the next right step. Because when all else fails? Helping someone else is the thing that helps me stay sane.
if you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Substance Abuse & Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
One day, you’ll tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s
survival guide.
~Brené Brown~
My Sobriety Stories
On April 1, 2020, I walked through the doors of an inpatient treatment facility—terrified, exhausted, and ready to try something different. This is the story of how I got sober… and how everything changed from there.
From rock-bottom moments to unexpected joys, these are the reflections, revelations, and ridiculous detours that shaped my recovery journey.
Tips for Traveling While Maintaining Sobriety
Learning how to travel again after getting sober was… let’s call it a “growth opportunity.” Between airport bars, party hostels, and endless free welcome drinks, it took some trial, error, and snack-based coping strategies to figure out how to stay grounded on the go.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far—starting with a practical, tip-packed toolkit, and ending with a personal story about what makes sober travel so wildly important (and surprisingly beautiful).
General Information & Resources
Not sure what it really means to be an alcoholic or addict? Wondering if sobriety is even possible for you? Or maybe you’re looking for support for someone you love?
Below are a few trusted organizations that offer connection, guidance, and community—no matter where you are on the journey.
🌐 Support Organizations
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Peer-led, 12-step recovery fellowship for anyone who wants to stop drinking. Meetings available worldwide, in-person and online. - Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
A 12-step recovery program for people who struggle with substance use of any kind—not just narcotics. - SMART Recovery
A science-based, self-empowered alternative to 12-step recovery. Focuses on behavioral tools, CBT principles, and building motivation. - Recovery Dharma
A Buddhist-inspired, peer-led recovery community that emphasizes meditation, mindfulness, and the Four Noble Truths. - Al-Anon Family Groups
A support community for friends and family members of people struggling with alcoholism. Offers tools for setting boundaries, finding peace, and practicing detachment with love.
📚 Coming soon: A full Recovery Resource Library
(Including definitions, self-assessment tools, treatment options, and printable downloads for those seeking support—either for themselves or someone they love.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Sobriety is a wild ride—and people have questions.
Here are a few of the ones I get asked most often, answered with honesty, a dash of sarcasm, and zero judgment.
(More coming soon—because wow, people have a lot of questions.)
❓What’s the first step to getting sober?
(AKA: How the hell do I even start?)
The first step to getting sober is deciding that you have a problem and you want to stop. That’s it. You don’t even have to be sober yet to make that decision.
Just getting past the denial (“I don’t have a problem”), the bargaining (“What if I only drink on weekends?”), and the rage-crying (“This isn’t fair, I’m fun!”)—that’s the work. That’s the beginning.
You don’t have to have a plan yet. You don’t need to know how it’s all going to unfold. You just need to decide that you’re done living this way, and you’re willing to try something else.
❓Can I still have fun without alcohol?
(Or am I doomed to a life of sad seltzers and early bedtimes?)
Absolutely. In fact, I have about a thousand times more fun now that I’m sober.
Sure, some things have changed—my activities, my friend group, the fact that I no longer think “sitting in a bar for eight hours” counts as entertainment. But what I gained? Freedom. From guilt, from shame, from lying and hiding, from that awful feeling of being completely alone even in a crowded bar.
And guess what? I still go to bars sometimes to meet friends. I still travel, dance, flirt, eat fancy food, and laugh way too loudly in public. I just do it with presence—and without puking in my purse or texting my ex.
Now the focus is on the people or the activity, not the booze (or the blow). I connect more. I remember everything. And I don’t wake up with the hangxiety of a thousand ghosts.
❓OK, now I’m sober… but I cry every day and feel like my brain is melting. WTF is happening? Will this last forever?
First of all: this is completely normal, and no, it won’t last forever.
In the early weeks (or months), it felt like I was experiencing the entire feelings wheel—every single emotion that’s ever existed, all at once, all day long. It was overwhelming, exhausting, and honestly kind of terrifying.
Here’s what helped me understand it:
- I had been suppressing every emotion for years.
Booze and drugs acted like a heavy fog, keeping everything at a distance. Once that fog lifted, all those emotions came charging in—raw, confusing, unfiltered. And since I hadn’t felt anything real in so long, it all felt… catastrophic. - My dopamine system was shot.
When you’ve been flooding your brain with chemical highs, it stops producing dopamine normally. You become way less sensitive to joy, and your natural “happy” pathways go offline for a while. So now I had all the feelings, no filter, and zero happy brain juice. No wonder everything felt apocalyptic.
But here’s the good news:
That hypersensitivity doesn’t last forever. Your brain heals. Your emotions balance. And eventually, you’ll be so grateful that you get to feel real love, joy, peace, and yes—even grief—without numbing it out.
The best advice I got during this time?
Take care of yourself like a fragile woodland creature.
🥦 Eat a vegetable.
💊 Take your vitamins.
🚶♀️ Move your body.
🛏 Sleep.
🍫 Be gentle with your heart and eat a frankly irresponsible amount of chocolate if it helps.
You are learning how to be a human again.
And that is A LOT.
But you’re doing it. And that matters.
🔘 Got more questions? So do I. → Full FAQ Page Coming Soon!
In the meantime, drop your burning questions in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to hear what’s on your mind.
Need help? Have a question, a comment, or just something weird and wonderful to share?
You can contact me using the form below, DM me on any of my socials, or email me directly at thesoberglobetrotter@gmail.com. Whether you’re reaching out for support, connection, or just a little sober travel chaos—I’d love to hear from you.
You’re not alone, and you don’t have to have it all figured out.
One small step is enough, and I’m always here, cheering you on.
— Ginny Dee
The Sober Globetrotter
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Substance Abuse & Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7.