We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery.
When I was 20 years old, I woke up in the middle of the night one time with a loud thunderclap thought that "OMG, I am an alcoholic!". Although I admitted it and knew it, I did nothing about it until 20 years later when I inexplicably found myself in an AA meeting. Once again, I had no problem admitting that I was an alcoholic, but it wasn't until 10 years later of in and out of the door of AA (with a period during that time of 5 years dry); I finally fully conceded to my innermost self that I was an alcoholic and did so with no lingering reservations. At that point, I took my first step in recovery. Almost 20 years later, I am still taking steps in recovery.
I was set free. No longer terminally unique. And I was not alone. I was among people who understood, because of their own experiences. What a gift!!!