johnnyloperamide: Take it from me. Do not use alcohol to help cope. It becomes your security blanket when things get rough, and it becomes very easy to go from a casual drinker to a problem drinker and not even realize it. Most of the time someone else has to point it out to you.
I say this from experience. If you are knee deep in shit drinking alcohol will raise it waist level, and finally over your head. Your problems will be magnified because now you have to drink to feel like yourself. Chances are you will justify it by surrounding yourself with other likeminded individuals....I threw a lot of house parties so my drinking didn't seem so bad.
Also, no problem is ever insurmountable. If you need help and encouragement there are so many people on here that help and encourage me daily.
Hopefully, things get better, but pm me if you just want to vent.