It's times like you describe that I need the program, that I need the steps. I freak out about incidents you describe. I don't do stress well, and my brain will hunt for things to worry about. Right now I'm having car trouble. My initial reaction - say goodbye to Christmas shopping (and that other money I had set aside for my recreational "needs"). Without this program, I would not have stopped to reflect that 1). I don't even know the extent of the problem; 2). I have plenty of money now to throw at it; 3). Worrying is NOT constructive; 4). Acceptance is; 5). All I can do about the car is all I can do about it right now.
In the past, a situation like this most certainly was an excuse to drink, but did I really need an excuse? I drank whenever.