Congratulations Serenity33!
That was not an easy situation that you made it through. Alcohol may relieve stress for a few moments but it always increases them dramatically, especially if you drink a lot.
It really irks me when other people try to tell you are not an alcoholic if you are trying not to drink. I see a lot of people who have decided not to drink on a regular basis. What I have discovered is that there are quite a few people that realize they have a drinking problem before it becomes dramatically obvious to everyone. I wish that I had stopped much earlier before my problem was blatantly obvious to everyone else. Things would have been much easier if I had.
The meetings are a wonderful place where you can meet others who understand the problem that have similar experiences to your own. I wouldn't have survived without people to talk to that understood. The support system of AA is second to none, so many people willing to help.
Glad you are doing well!!