Ever look back on times that you felt "on-edge" and realized that you took a drink to cope with it? Smoked some pot?

Found whatever you could to stop feeling for a while?

I'm realizing right now (nearly 6 years afterward) that I self-medicated to deal with racing thoughts. That the underlying issues that were there before still are, and without anything to cover them they're a whole lot easier to see and work on.

It's like a veil of smoke has been cleared away.

Thoughts?