I'm sure that IS very stressful. You are right on, though--it's much better to be dealing with this with a clear head than one that is all clouded up by booze.
One thing I've heard is that if you are afraid you might run into a problem with paying your bills while you are unemployed, it's better to let the creditors know sooner rather than later. Some will give you a month or two grace period, others might reduce your minimum payment for awhile. You don't want to ruin your credit by just ignoring it.
Keep plugging away--something will come through. Have you checked out temp agencies? They have been great for me during temporary periods of unemployment--and sometimes they lead to actual job offers.