Too, adversity can get the message "what I'm doing isn't working" through to us where other things might not. For me, sometimes adversity is just consequences in an easier to stomach, less personal fashion. Parents and others sometimes try to get messages across when you're young and refuse/can't hear them but later, they show up in other guises. I truly believe the Universe keeps dealing out your lessons until you learn them. I think recovery is just the flip side, getting the lessons finally :-)