I too had more energy while inebriated. I felt "okay". And I made lots and lots of paintings... painting bores me to tears, actually- but I had what it took, while drinking, to sit at home for hours after work every day and do the practice and the pieces. I stayed up late into the night, drank coffee all day long at my job the next day and this went on for years. Eventually it really started to feel awful and I began to have periods of sobriety. I did not start drinking until I was 28. I'm now 36 and I have had more sober time in the last couple of years but I am still struggling with it.