Unfortunately cough syrup is making you feel better for all the wrong reasons, the very same reasons you are abstaining from.....alcohol. What helped me was taking stock of my angst at night (meaming expect it), find a substitute (herb tea), and just start inventoring my thoughts. same thing my mind was doing already, but slowing it down and not solving....just inventorying. Getting comfortable that life is about living, and living is about experiences we dont control or contrive.