Well my situation has been the opposite. But, I think it is because my drinking became so chronic that I went past the stage of being fun socially. I was extremely nervous going to social events the last five years of my drinking because I repeatedly did stupid things and said stupid things at parties. This had not happened before. I had just reached a point of such chronic drinking that I would arrive smashed at parties and it would be mostly downhill from there.
so, in my case I feel a huge sense of relief now that I am on the same playing field as most folks at a party. I feel calm and collected, not driven to say brilliant and funny things that aren't really brilliant or funny in the foggy clarity of hang-over hindsight. I find myself taking the time to have normal conversations.
Just curious: does this awkwardness hit you in all social settings, or just the party atmosphere?