I tend to think of alcohol as both the symptom and the cause - it's that powerful. I chased the drunk to escape from the feelings of self-unworthiness, avoidance, shame etc - but then the booze creates this sick, brutal cycle where it creates and magnifies those very negative feelings that it temporarily salves. Once we are deep in the drinking life, the issues, complexes, problems that drove us there are not things that we can deal with. Booze makes just performing the basic life obligations difficult.
I realized, at the end of my drinking days, that only in sobriety could I really start to deal with the obstacles, complexes and feelings about myself that needed fixing. Quit first. Do it without making an excuse that you aren't totally fixed. Drop the booze for good and then, finally, you can start healing.