I had/have the same problem with social anxiety, couldnt go anywhere or talk to anyone without drinking. Even places where no one was drinking i had my cooler of beer in the car. I thought , oh great i can have a have a few beers and actually come off somewhat normal to people. It progressed over ten years and the 2 beers i needed to realax turned into a 6 pack just to get me to go somewhere, then continued through out the day and night just to get to sleep. It worked for a while but it cought up to me and so i quit. Now Im back to being mute again but im learning thats just me and thats ok. i'm rambling. but alcoholism is a progressive disease and it will get worse. it is just a mask for an underlying problem. sorry if that didnt help at all