[nkozyra]

I used to drink pretty heavily in what could frequently be described as a "functional" alcoholic (regardless of what one thinks of that term)

For me the benefit was dulling the frantic nature of my mind, especially at night. Instead of thinking or worrying about everything under the sun, I was able to not ... have those brainwaves snapping until 3 am.

It is of course a cycle, since the negative effect of alcohol exacerbates that latent anxiety. I'd dull it and it would pop back up the next night.