Not the true step 1 but this worked for me
I am powerless over people, places and things (and other people's use of alcohol), and my life had become unmanagable.
I believe that I have always struggled with co-dependent issues....and that I needed my loved on in my life because the other lessons had not been "big" enough.
I suspect though if I had not gone through what I did, and gotten the HELP AND SUPPORT I so desperately needed I would continue to repeat the pattern I had done previously getting sicker and sicker and deeper and deeper. Having some compassion for myself (cause goodness knows most of us are really hard on myself) has really helped me.
Finally one book that has helped (the sponsor situation is tough where I live, but I am working the steps) is A Gentle Path through the Twelve Steps. I have gotten a lot out of it (in addition to the two from Al-anon).