Dear Bel
You aren't the first, and you won't be the last, to resort to drink to "help" with problems. I do it too, and it is a bottle of wine - minimum. And over a long period. It seems to be some sort of habit I have got into - I have a stressful day, a couple of stressful phone calls, and the automatic reaction is, a glass of wine. Or three. To me it is a sign that I am "off duty", like you are when you are on holiday.
You are not on your own, and as others have said, congratulations in admitting it and realising it is a problem. I am a dry white wine drinker, and have found that lime juice has a reasonably similar taste, whether with water or with soda, and that has helped me to cut down from the two bottles some nights to one, and I'm hoping to extend it to half a bottle and none. Don't know if that idea will appeal to you.
The big question is are you an alcholic, and I am not sure what that means. No, I don't need a drink to function, I never drink in the day, I don't drink spirits EVER, I just drink too much wine in the evening. So Im not an alcoholic but I drink too much. Same effect really, it is a problem. Makes me tired, causes lack of concentration, rots the liver, does nobody any good.
Another piece of advice if you don't mind me butting in, and do excuse my crass approach, cos owning up to your difficulty is probably enough for you to deal with without me pitching in, but NEVER buy a wine box. With a wine box you don't know how much you have drunk. Bottles might not reduce your intake, but at least you know what you have gone through.
Sorry if I've gone over the top, but just to say you aren't on your own, and I am so proud of you for mentioning it.
Let us know how you cope with cutting down.
You will notice there hasn't been any criticism of you - suspect there might be a few more of us in the same boat.
Good luck, and I've just swapped my last glass of wine for a lime juice.
Much love
Margaret