i used alcohol to not cope or to cope with negative emotions/feelings. i was self medicating. course that meant i had to drink continuously to keep those feelings away. i had never felt like i was like everybody else. those ppl who dealt with things easier than me. result=addiction to alcohol.
when i did recover from alcoholism i knew i had to learn how to deal with life too. (cuz life was the kicker) i went to therapy. it was a long and sometimes painful process. i feared what i would find inside me. but the outcome helped me stay sober too. i wasn't carrying all that stuff i had been carrying with me for so long. i had learned thru AA and therapy new coping skills, etc. can't say i can do it perfectly but those 2 things, justme, made all the difference.
hope this makes sense. i believe you could do this too if you choose. it's a new way of living.