Hugs to you! I definitely developed a drinking problem. Less with depression, more with hypomania, to shut out the racing thoughts and get some sleep. I am not on meds for bipolar so far, so it is still an issue. I feel so crappy about it most of the time. I try to get a grip on it and it works for a while, but I slip back from time to time. You are not alone and from what I've heard bipolar people have far more issues with drinking than others, anyways of course this is not an excuse to neither manage bipolar or alcoholism, so it is good that you took measures to stay sober. I just read a very good book on that topic, by Marya Hornbacher who also wrote Madness. It is about the twelve steps of AA and mental illness.