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The Turning Point Center of Chittenden County

The Turning Point Center of Chittenden County

Compassionate community that provides recovery support services.

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Breaking Up with Alcohol

December 13, 2022 By TPCCC

By the time I quit drinking, I was pretty much married to alcohol.

exhaustionA professional woman in my early 50’s with a master’s degree and a decent job, I was slowly, steadily losing my grip. I don’t remember how I went from occasional drinking to obsession with drinking, but I do remember night after night on the sofa, glass after glass of wine in front of the TV, my spouse long gone upstairs to work or talk on the phone or engage in some other life I was no longer interested in. I’d wake up at 2 and go to bed, telling myself I was exhausted, but most of the time, I had just passed out.

I thought of myself as healthy — a runner and biker. But, I was losing my ability to focus at work, spending more time planning my drinking. My relationships with people I loved and who loved me were deteriorating, either from neglect or distress. I had no tolerance for making plans, paying bills made me nervous, and discussing anything difficult was out of the question. I snuck drinks before going to social events and finished off after we got back home.

My spouse had tried repeatedly to get me to change, but I was self-protective and threatened. Finally, though (and slowly), I got scared. Something in me sounded an alarm. I could lose my job, my love, my home. I started seeing a counselor.

It took a while to get to my relationship with alcohol, and when I finally did, I had moved from daily drinking to binge drinking – trying to control by abstaining, and then having a blowout intermittently. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t fun.

Turning Point Center sign above entrance to the CenterAt the suggestion of my counselor, I landed on the doorstep of the Turning Point Center. I talked with a young man whose external life could not have been more different from mine, but whose internal experience I shared completely. In his journey with alcohol and drugs, he had experienced the same fear, isolation, panic, and detachment that I was feeling. Talking with someone who had walked this path gave me hope. I wasn’t alone. 

Since that beginning, I’ve had a few ups and downs, but the coaches and peers at the Turning Point are steady presence, always available with encouragement and a good ear, an easy smile.

I’m a slow learner, and no one could get me to seek help until I was ready. But, if I hadn’t asked for help, I know I would have done many more dangerous things, and could very well be dead, in jail, or really sick today. Instead, I’m healthy, I have friends, I do good work, I pay the bills, and I have energy for fun and projects. I don’t take my recovery lightly. I stay in touch with a coach to keep me focused, and with friends. I try to help others.

It’s why we’re here – just to be here when you get ready. I hope we get to talk with you soon.

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Now open on weekends and our normal hours of operation are from 9:00am-5:00pm 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Call the Center at 802.861.3150 or knock on the window by the Center’s front door.

Our groups and programs meet in person.

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We are open virtually. Please explore our website for virtual activities and Zoom meetings.

Online Recovery Programs

You can also visit our Staff page to write for support.

2023 June

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Events for May

28th

Krista, lakeside.
9:15 am - 10:00 am

In-person yoga class

Events for May

29th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts (Noon Mondays)

Entrance sign to the Turning Point Center
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

All Recovery: Medication Assisted Treatment

Events for May

30th

Celebrate Recovery
9:30 am - 10:30 am

Celebrate Recovery: Breaking Chains

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents in Recovery: Drop-In

Metal folding chair
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

AA Way of Life

NA logo
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts

Refuge Recovery
6:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Refuge Recovery

Events for May

31st

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Creative Writing

Families coping
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Families Coping with Addiction

Events for June

1st

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Crafting with Compassion

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Good Vibes

Robin Zabiegalski
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Recovery Yoga at the Center

Events for June

2nd

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

Events for June

3rd

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Events for June

4th

Krista, lakeside.
9:15 am - 10:00 am

In-person yoga class

Events for June

5th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts (Noon Mondays)

Entrance sign to the Turning Point Center
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

All Recovery: Medication Assisted Treatment

Events for June

6th

Celebrate Recovery
9:30 am - 10:30 am

Celebrate Recovery: Breaking Chains

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents in Recovery: Drop-In

Metal folding chair
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

AA Way of Life

NA logo
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts

Refuge Recovery
6:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Refuge Recovery

Events for June

7th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Creative Writing

Families coping
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Families Coping with Addiction

Events for June

8th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Good Vibes

Robin Zabiegalski
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Recovery Yoga at the Center

Tina Friml
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Stand Up for Recovery

Events for June

9th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

Events for June

10th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Events for June

11th

Krista, lakeside.
9:15 am - 10:00 am

In-person yoga class

Events for June

12th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts (Noon Mondays)

Entrance sign to the Turning Point Center
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

All Recovery: Medication Assisted Treatment

Events for June

13th

Celebrate Recovery
9:30 am - 10:30 am

Celebrate Recovery: Breaking Chains

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents in Recovery: Drop-In

Metal folding chair
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

AA Way of Life

NA logo
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts

Refuge Recovery
6:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Refuge Recovery

Events for June

14th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Creative Writing

Families coping
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Families Coping with Addiction

Events for June

15th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Good Vibes

Robin Zabiegalski
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Recovery Yoga at the Center

Events for June

16th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

Events for June

17th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Events for June

18th

Krista, lakeside.
9:15 am - 10:00 am

In-person yoga class

Events for June

19th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts (Noon Mondays)

Entrance sign to the Turning Point Center
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

All Recovery: Medication Assisted Treatment

Events for June

20th

Celebrate Recovery
9:30 am - 10:30 am

Celebrate Recovery: Breaking Chains

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents in Recovery: Drop-In

Metal folding chair
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

AA Way of Life

NA logo
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

NA Beautiful Addicts

Refuge Recovery
6:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Refuge Recovery

Events for June

21st

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Creative Writing

Families coping
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Families Coping with Addiction

Events for June

22nd

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

NA logo
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

NA Good Vibes

Robin Zabiegalski
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Recovery Yoga at the Center

Events for June

23rd

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

Events for June

24th

One Month Chip
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Nooner

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26
27
28
29
30
1
Events for June

25th