That's how it started for me, gradually and almost insidiously before it started to preoccupy my thoughts and overtake my life for the next 5 years. Then it was no longer a band aid for emotional wounds, it was making me unhappier in the long run. There was no more fun or relaxation associated with drinking, it's just a habit I used to numb myself at that point. And really depressing, especially when you're passing out from drinking 5x a week. So in the end I was just numb and depressed and an alcoholic. It took a huge amount of effort and time to overcome addiction and cravings. Luckily I was still fairly young when I stopped drinking and had only drank for 5 years, so I was able to quell it before it became a lifelong addiction, which would've made it even harder to battle.

So, you've started to notice the signs, and i think it would be a good idea to start looking at other options for your symptoms and pain before it becomes a problem. I'm not meaning to fearmongering or say alcohol is bad, and I'm not saying it will get as bad as my situation was, but the potential is there if you continue down this path. I basically replaced one addiction/preoccupation (alcohol) with another (exercising everyday and drinking flavored water instead of alcohol at night). I also find that meditation and hiking helps sometimes too. Hopefully you can find something that works well for you.