I am curious....

I think that I am a functioning alcoholic. I have my daughters visit every weekend, and I do not drink (nor want one) whenever I have them. However, when they leave, I have some beers. (That's all that I drink) I go to work, and do my job. Come home, to no one, and I have a few beers again.

Anyway, I do not believe in God. And I know that 12-step programs bring God into the equation for assistance in getting through the physical & emotional struggles of becoming clean. How can a person who doesn't believe follow a 12-step program? Honestly, I know that I would be uncomfortable pretending to believe. Has anyone else gone through this? If so, how did you deal with it?

Second question:
How do you prevent yourself to switching to another form of self-harm while stopping drinking? Before I started drinking, I overspent. Before that, I hurt myself physically. Etc.