WE DO RECOVER – AND SOMETIMES WE DO IT – IN CYBERSPACE

When Taryn and I first sat down to identify a list of the women we think are doing great online work spreading the word about recovery, we soon realized that the list could get very long! There are so many women doing recovery work online that deserve to be a list of top sober bloggers. To keep things manageable, we decided to limit the list to just 12 cyber-recovery rockstars for 2016. We know full well that the list for 2017 will need to be longer. A range of criteria was used to identify the top 12 – including an analysis of numbers of users as well as hits per day, size of community including Facebook and Twitter platforms, and Alexa traffic ranking (which is based on such parameters as reach and page views). Although these metrics were important in our selection – we also employed our own expertise as known “influencers” in online recovery efforts. We have been doing this online recovery gig for five years. We know good content and recognize integrity of intention when we see it.

We are beyond proud to share this list – and to have met some of these amazing bloggers along the way this past year or so. We appreciate that these amazing women share a message very similiar to the message that we have focused on here at She Recovers for the past five years. We are strong and courageous women, and we do recover. We believe that we’re all recovering from something and that we can and do all recover differently – and that is a good thing. Most importantly – and this is truly the key to healing the women of the world who need, are in, or are seeking recovery – we are stronger together. Always and forever.

Here, in no particular order, are the She Recovers Top 12 Female Sober Bloggers in Cyberspace for 2016:

JEAN McCARTHY – UnPICKLED

Jean began writing her Unpickled blog on her first day of sobriety.  She drank quietly in private and managed to quit just as privately. However, Jean didn’t stay quiet about her sobriety for long. Although her blog started out as a tool to keep her accountable to her own sobriety, along the way Jean has encouraged and supported tens of thousands of women as they embark upon their own recovery journeys. Follow Jean on Facebook here.

LAURA SILVERMAN – THE SOBRIETY COLLECTIVE

Laura is proud to be sober and has NEVER been anonymous about sharing her story. Her opinion is that being anonymous keeps sobriety in the shadows and doesn’t give it a face. She wanted to start something where sober people who are voluntarily and happily willing to share their stories and their passions can come and “meet” others like them.  You will find her work on The Sobriety Collective website and blog. Laura’s point is that there is so, so much more to sobriety and recovery than just 12-step programs.  They can be part of the process but don’t have to be the be all and end all. You can follow Laura on Facebook here.

JULIE ELSDON-HEIGHT – SOBER JULIE DOING LIFE

After facing her alcoholism and being involved in a car accident Julie began writing at Sober Julie. This funky blogger takes the tired, unappetizing reputation about sobriety and turns it into a day at the circus. Jam-packed with ideas for food & drink recipes, travel tips and reviews, real stories of recovery, tips for sobriety, reflections on life and tons of ideas for leading a better (more creative, more enjoyable) life. Follow Julie on Facebook here.

MAGGIE SHORES – SOBER COURAGE

Life in addiction is a very lonely and difficult place to be, and most of all deadly. However, there IS a solution, there is a way out, and it is SOBRIETY. Maggie is a recovering alcoholic with eight years of continuous sobriety. She uses her blog Sober Courage to share what she has learned and continue to learn through her sober journey so that it may help people find their way to sobriety too! Follow Maggie on Facebook here.

HOLLY WHITAKER – HIP SOBRIETY

Sobriety isn’t just about quitting alcohol and drugs. It’s about getting after your best life and having everything you ever dreamed of. Holly’s individualized path of recovery helped her not only kick her alcohol, cigarette, pot, and food addictions – it has given her a life beyond what she could have dreamed for herself. Holly’s goal is to provide you the same resources, tools, education, roadmaps, and inspiration that helped her navigate her own recovery. She does this through sharing free resources via the Hip Sobriety website and blog, a weekly newsletter, the HOME podcast, and her online Sobriety School. Follow Holly on Facebook here.

LAURA McKOWEN

Laura is a mama, writer, light-seeker and recovery warrior. She believes we desperately need each other’s most honest stories—to know that we are not alone, to learn how to move through life, to remember who we are. She writes about her struggle with addiction, her journey to sobriety and love of all kinds on her blog at Laura McKowen. She is the co-host of HOME Podcast alongside Holly Whitaker of Hip Sobriety. Follow Laura on Facebook here.

SASHA P. TOZZI

Sasha is a Recovery/Lifestyle Coach and writer who can be found over at Sasha P.Tozzi. She believes in hope, healing, and daily miracles–beyond what is considered reasonable to most. Her passion is to teach others what she has learned so far and to show them that they have the power to break free from their addictions & other self-sabotaging patterns. She helps people to RECOVER themselves because she believes that life is way too wonderful to spend it hating yourself. Follow Sasha on Facebook here.

KELLY FITZGERALD – SOBER SENORITA

Kelly’s goal is to let others know help is available for substance use disorders and that recovery is possible. By sharing her story with the world via her website and blog Sober Señorita she hopes to break the stigma of addiction and let others know they can live a life beyond their wildest dreams without the crutch of alcohol and drugs. Follow Kelly on Facebook here.

ANNIE GRACE – THIS NAKED MIND

Annie is the author and creator of the book and website This Naked Mind. This Naked Mind works by ending the conflict between your conscious desire to drink less, and your unconscious belief that alcohol is beneficial. Rather than teaching you how to be sober – This Naked Mind takes the desire to drink away. Your desire to drink will be gone, so you won’t feel like you are missing out. You aren’t being deprived of anything. The focus is not on staying sober, it is instead on just living and being happy. Follow Annie on Facebook here.

JULIE MAIDA – SOBER MOMMIES

Sober since May 2, 2000, Julie Maida founded Sober Mommies after a severe bout of postpartum depression, OCD, and agoraphobia made it impossible for her to keep up with her 12 step recovery responsibilities. Julie soon realized how much recovery support often depends on regular meeting attendance, and how lonely it can feel without such support. The purpose of Sober Mommies is to provide a space where different experiences and journeys can be embraced and used as tools for learning. Julie understands that recovery doesn’t always include complete abstinence or 12 step work, and Sober Mommies thus celebrates any and all efforts to improve quality of life. Follow Julie on Facebook here.

VERONICA VALLI

As a recovered alcoholic and drug addict Veronica has personal experience of what it takes to recover from an addiction. She now uses this experience to help and inspire others, believing that all alcoholics and addicts can recover if they have access to the right kind of help. Veronica is the author of Why You Drink and How to Stop: Journey to Freedom. She speaks publicly and conducts workshops and lectures on alcoholism, addiction and spirituality. Veronica is the creator of the informative and inspirational website Veronica Valli where she works hard to educate and inform people on problem drinking and addiction.  Follow Veronica on Facebook here.

JEN McNEELY – SHEDOESTHECITY

Jen McNeely, herself a woman in long-term recovery, launched Shedoesthecity (based in Toronto, Canada) in 2007. Shedoesthecity is a voice for women in that, in addition to being an awesome lifestyle blog and website, has pledged a commitment to share stories of addiction and recovery to help empower other women to change their patterns and get help. Shedoesthecity is providing more perspective on alcoholism and addition in hopes that a day will come when sharing these stories becomes not just brave, but normal and comfortable. Follow Jen on Facebook here.

Taryn and I really look forward to developing next year’s list – we can’t wait to meet the other women who join us in the online recovery world.

Love,

Dawn