I've found this site to be a wonderful tool in my own recovery - albeit still in the early trial and error stage. But, those first months of recognizing that alcohol and/or drugs were no longer working is still so clear in my mind. Other people are always the ones who bring it to our attention. In my case, I was certain depression and anxiety were the real culprits. And, to some degree they are for most of us. But my method of medicating, creating a delusional state of being, was the crusher. Once the recognition came that there was a problem, the most valuable thing for me was connecting with others who shared the problem and getting educated. A counselor got me to AA, I read the Doctor's Opinion and it fit me to a tee. From there, I at least made a start. I could then try to make decisions that were based on the truth of my condition. Those decisions can lead to a variety of paths, but exploring various forums on this site is a great starter!