# Mental Health Pathfinders: Dr. Petros Levounis on Dry January and What a Month Free From Alcohol Can Teach You

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-medical-mind-7071801/mental-health-pathfinders-dr-petros-levounis-on-dry-january-and-what-a-month-free-from-alcohol-can-teach-you
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-medical-mind-7071801/mental-health-pathfinders-dr-petros-levounis-on-dry-january-and-what-a-month-free-from-alcohol-can-teach-you.md
Podcast: [The Medical Mind](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-medical-mind-7071801)
Published: 2026-01-02T20:20:00+00:00
Episode link: https://medicalmind.libsyn.com/mental-health-pathfinders-dr-petros-levounis-on-dry-january-and-what-a-month-free-from-alcohol-can-teach-you
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/medicalmind/riverside_petros_levounis_-_mh_pathfinders_jamess_studio.mp3?dest-id=2922749
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Duration seconds: 776

## Resource

On this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders , host Erin Connors sits down with Dr. Petros Levounis to unpack the appeal of Dry January and what people can realistically gain from a month off alcohol. They talk through why a time-limited goal can be easier to stick with, how to handle social situations without making it a public announcement, and what benefits people often notice physically and psychologically when they take a break. The conversation also covers practical strategies for anxiety in the moment (including hydration, cutting back on caffeine, and finding a supportive ally), the rise of mocktails, what to know about medications that can help reduce cravings, and how to reintroduce alcohol more safely if you choose to drink again after a month off.

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## Transcript

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