Dry January: What Taking a Break From Alcohol Can Teach You

Dry January has become a popular reset after the holiday – but for many people, it raises bigger questions than expected. What role does alcohol play in your life? Is it helping you unwind, or quietly making things harder?

In this episode of Everyday Therapy, Brett Cushing, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Dr. Karin Ryan, Licensed Psychologist, explore what happens when you take a break from alcohol and start paying attention to how it affects your mental health, relationships, and daily functioning. Rather than focusing on labels or rigid rules, they invite listeners into a curious, compassionate conversation about awareness and choice.

This episode offers insight into how alcohol interacts with anxiety, sleep, stress, and emotional regulation—and how even a short pause can reveal valuable information about your habits and needs.

Tune in to Discover:

• Why Dry January can be a helpful mental and emotional reset
• How alcohol impacts anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation
• The connection between alcohol use, sleep quality, and stress levels
• What cravings, routines, and urges can teach you about your coping strategies
• How to approach alcohol use with curiosity instead of shame
• Ways to navigate social pressure when you’re not drinking
• How taking a break can clarify your relationship with alcohol moving forward
• Why self-awareness—not perfection—is the goal

Do you have feedback or topic requests? Email us at Podcast@SagentBH.com

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