If you absolutely had to tell someone what it’s like to be you right now, would it sound like this?

• “My life is over anyway. So, if I overdose, so what?”
• “I hate myself and all the lies I tell to justify my actions.”
• “It’s not about getting high anymore. It’s about avoiding the alternative.”
• “The world is a mess. I don’t care what happens.”
• “How could I ever have let this happen?”
• “I’ve lost everything. There’s no getting it back, so why even try?”
• “I don’t know how to stop using.”

Does one or more of these statements ring true for you? Maybe you feel lost, hopeless, worthless, angry, ashamed, ready to give up. Or all of the above. You are NOT ALONE.

You aren’t the first to feel this way and you won’t be the last. There are people who have walked these same dark paths before. They know what it’s like to be you. They know how difficult it is to look one’s addiction in the eye, to stop being overwhelmed by it.

No one said it’s going to be easy getting your life back. In fact, it’s going to be hard at times. Each one of us is different. For each of us, the journey toward recovery unfolds in its own way and on its own timeline.

Sometimes, it’s helpful to walk with peers. Ask them those personal questions and listen to what worked for them. Maybe there is something you haven’t tried. There are multiple pathways to recovery and most individuals practice more than one. Find a community that fits you.

If any of this sounds right to you, consider calling the center at (802) 861-3150, or stopping by Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, located at 179 South Winooski Ave. in Burlington.

Turning Point Center is a substance-free place that offers services to people in recovery. Its staff of recovery coaches is experienced, ready to meet you wherever you’re at. There are no fees to pay, no judgments about your situation. They are simply there to help you get to and stay in recovery, just like they themselves are doing.

Just don’t give up on yourself. Ever.