Thandokazi Ntshinga, the Cape Town-based content writer and wellness advocate behind the growing platform Sober Plug, has shared an in-depth and personal account of the life events that led her to sobriety. In a detailed virtual conversation with Independent News Eswatini’s Digital Editor, Adekunle Owolabi, she retraced the emotional, spiritual and practical steps that shaped her transformation and the wellness movement she is now building.
Her story begins in Cape Town where she grew up surrounded by a family that valued books, learning and being close to nature. She described herself as a curious child who loved writing and observing the world around her. Underneath that curiosity, she carried a sensitivity she did not yet know how to manage, especially when it came to grief.
Her life took a sharp turn in 2012 when her sister passed away. She spoke about this period with an honesty that revealed the depth of the wound. She said she did not know how to process the loss at the time, and years later she realised that alcohol had become a quiet companion that softened emotions she could not confront or name.
Her early adulthood came with more challenges. An unexpected pregnancy changed her responsibilities at a young age. A difficult breakup added strain to an already tender part of her life, and she said she felt as though she was performing strength for the outside world while battling an internal heaviness. Because drinking was common in her social circles, she convinced herself that her habits were normal. She continued raising her children, working and maintaining friendships, even though she sensed something restless inside her.
She said it took years before she recognised her relationship with alcohol as unhealthy. The turning point came during the holiday season last December. She spent the festive period alone and believed it would be an opportunity to unwind without restrictions. Instead, the silence of those days forced her to sit with emotions she had always distracted herself from. On 28 December, she poured a drink and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. She questioned why she felt low even when she had the space to indulge freely. This moment marked the beginning of her decision to quit drinking. She prayed, took a deep breath and made a commitment she has honoured ever since.
Her early months of sobriety were difficult. She described them as a period where everything felt sharp and real. She had to re learn how to relax, how to socialise and how to navigate stressful moments without reaching for alcohol. But these challenges came with victories. She began waking up with more energy. Her anxiety levels settled. Her thoughts became clearer. She said it felt like rediscovering herself in pieces, one day at a time.
Faith became the foundation that supported these changes. Her mornings now begin with prayer and stillness. She spends time visualising the life she is building, a practice she says has strengthened her discipline and kept her grounded. She also reflected on how certain friendships naturally faded as she changed. She believes this separation was part of her healing, a necessary shift that created space for the peace she had long needed.
Her commitment to wellness extended beyond spirituality and into physical fitness. Gym training became one of her daily anchors. She described exercise as a powerful reset that centres her and helps her regulate emotions. Running, which she struggled with at first, eventually grew into a form of therapy that calmed her mind and strengthened her resilience. She now sees fitness as an essential part of her life and a key tool in her sobriety.
As she grew stronger, new ideas resurfaced, including the vision for Sober Plug. The platform aims to build a community for people seeking healthier lifestyles, offering spaces where they can connect without judgement. She wants Sober Plug to feel modern, relatable and welcoming to young people who may feel disconnected from formal recovery environments. She hopes it will become a place where people can share experiences, set goals and learn about sobriety through content that feels authentic and accessible.
The platform encourages activities such as hiking, running, yoga, journaling and other forms of creative and physical healing. One of the first major events under Sober Plug will take place on 29 December at Clifton Second Beach where she will host a shoreline yoga gathering. She believes the session will introduce participants to a calmer way of entering the new year and will show that wellness practices are for everyone, not only for a specific lifestyle or income bracket.
She said the biggest fear many people have when considering sobriety is the belief that they will lose their social life or become dull. Her experience has shown the opposite. She found deeper connections, stronger clarity and a version of herself she had long forgotten existed. She also said that her children have been at the centre of her motivation, giving her a reason to stay committed even on difficult days.
Ntshinga encourages anyone facing temptation during the festive season to remember that December is just another month. She advises people to write down their reasons for staying sober and to keep those reminders visible. She also suggests removing the glamorous image attached to alcohol by confronting the reality that it often leads to anxiety, emotional instability and physical discomfort. She believes that once people see alcohol for what it truly is rather than how it is marketed, the desire to drink begins to weaken.
Looking to the future, she hopes to expand Sober Plug into a structured programme offering guided sessions, online discussions, lifestyle resources and community challenges. She dreams of launching wellness retreats and partnering with mental health professionals to create a more holistic support network.
Above everything else, she wants to continue building a peaceful and fulfilling life for herself and her children. She said her story is ongoing, but she finally feels that it is being written with intention, clarity and confidence.
Discussion about this post