Dry January Day 13: Emotional Regulation Alcohol affects how the brain processes emotion and impulse control. Even when you are not drinking, it can make emotional responses sharper and harder to regulate. By around Day 13 of Dry January, the brain has had time to adjust. Many people notice they feel less reactive. Small frustrations do not escalate as quickly and emotions feel more proportionate. This does not mean you feel calm all the time. It means there is more space between feeling somethi