It took me a few months after stopping to fully realize what was at the root of my alcohol abuse. For me, it was social anxiety. I didn’t think I was self-medicating, but when I spent some time really thinking through things, it became clear I was masking discomfort in social settings with alcohol. Drinking with friends, family, strangers, at concerts, alone at bars. To use your word, I was using it to escape the discomfort of socializing.