I can relate, yes. Booze is like an old friend that slaps you on the back and understands your woes and sympathizes. It's reliable that way. It also tends to kick you in butt afterward, and makes it impossible to fix things so that you come back. The only way to break the cycle is to not show up, find some new friends.
Stress is part of life. You can blow it out any number of constructive ways (exercise is good, AA, therapy). Rather than let it build up, acknowledge it, maybe every day do an inventory, and then deal with it in small bites. But don't toast it with a glass, saying "here's to you kid." Give it a kick in its butt. It's been lying to you for a long time. You don't need friends like that.