Wondering why you fear ssri's would increase anxiety...I think the opposite.

Wondering how your friends feel being different on the meds...

IMHO you should cut back on the drinking... a glass of wine or maybe 2 at meal is actually healthy... and some bottles of wine only hold 4 1/2 glasses so that wouldn't be a huge cut. If you do this, it will still chill you out for the evening, but you might not have any hung over effect the next day...