Video games have helped Jinkx Monsoon with sobriety
In an interview with Self Magazine, two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner (Season 5 and All Stars 7) Jinkx Monsoon spoke candidly about her relationship with alcohol and her sobriety journey. In addition to therapy, witchcraft, humor, and cannabis, something that has really helped the drag performer and media personality avoid relapsing is video games.
“When I quit drinking, I bought a carrying case for my PS4, and I immediately started traveling with it everywhere because it was kind of a reward after my shows. It’s a hassle, but this has become my little ritual. I’m a big fan of rituals,” Monsoon told Self. “Sometimes the hotel TV is not set up to let you plug something in, but I’ve unmounted televisions from the wall and then remounted them at the end of my day just to be able to play my video games, because that is my reward at the end of the night instead of vodka. And so when DeLa [Jinkx’s close friend and drag collaborator, fellow queen BenDeLaCreme] teases me like, ‘Oh, I can’t believe we’re waiting for Jinkx to pack up her video game system,’ I’m like, ‘Do you want the alternative?'”
Monsoon also dove in depth on her gaming preferences and habits with Self.
“I have a PS5 now. When I have downtime at home, it’s all fantasy RPGs. Right now, I’ve got Horizon Forbidden West. When I sink into it, I need like four to six hours of ‘leave me alone, I’m playing my RPG.’ On the road, it’s typically Overwatch. I always say Overwatch is the straightest, most masculine thing that I do because I get into it. I’m like [butch voice], ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.'”
By replacing alcohol with video games and other pleasurable activities, along with staying consistent with therapy, practicing witchcraft as a spirituality, and having a healthy sense of humor, Jinkx Monsoon is coming off of her RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 victory in a good place.
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