That's a real shame as it's likely to be the catalyst for your issues (that or your family). I managed to change a high stress job in to a walk in the park by reading Peopleware and finally understanding how work... works. You might want to [re]read that.

It's not going to help though if work isn't the catalyst. Maybe you expect too much of yourself and crumble under your own pressure, maybe you fear failure and alcohol is a convenient excuse, maybe you are heading toward a mental break down. Who knows?

This is gonna sound a bit silly but keeping a mood diary with data about alcohol consumption, mood swings etc might help you step away from the problem far enough to see it in all it's glory.

Finding a mechanism to step back and see the bigger picture often helps. If your family isn't the problem they could be your biggest help in this.

Good luck

Contrary to what dazzawazza says "taking the edge off life" is not what you are doing my friend. Even though you say that you have no problem going without for periods at a time realistically what that "feeling" is is you satisfying the craving your body has for alcohol - that unfortunately what an addiction is all about. The monkey on your back. Whether the amount of alcohol you consume is a problem for you depends on whether it is an on balance positive or negative in your life. If you've gotten as far as posting here it shows you have serious issues with your habit but if your life is not coming apart at the seems because of it then you are in control and not the substance. I would recommend going to AA meetings as corny as that may sound. You will quickly find out more about your relationship with alcohol from people who have gone further down a road you can imagine.