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Don’t say ‘Junkie’ – removing the stigma of addiction The Scottish Government has launched a national campaign calling for drug and alcohol problems to be treated as a health condition and urging people to stop using words such as “alcoholic” and “junkie”. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “We want to make it easy for people to ask for help. We know that passing judgment on people who are looking for help and support can harm their recovery. When people are seeking help with alcohol and drugs, kindness and compassion saves lives.” Why has…
Castle Craig Recovery Blog
Alcohol and Pancreatitis
Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Alcoholic pancreatitis is a dangerous condition that develops when alcohol damages the pancreas. If not recognised and treated appropriately, alcoholic pancreatitis can have serious consequences. What is the pancreas and why is it important? The pancreas is a small but important organ found in the upper part of the abdomen. It is connected to the small intestine via a tube known as the pancreatic duct. The pancreas contains two types of glands, which both have very important roles. Exocrine glands These glands produce important enzymes. During digestion, the pancreas releases the enzymes into the small intestine….
Climate Change Anxiety and Addiction
The link between climate change anxiety and alcohol and drug abuse The impact of climate change arouses strong feelings among GenZ young people and older generations alike. People are starting to feel anxious, terrified, angry and grief-stricken – they also feel impotent, guilty, hopeless and depressed. Around the world, mental health is suffering and some are turning to alcohol and drugs in order to cope. What is causing climate change anxiety? In the face of compelling evidence of climate disaster, people are struggling to adjust. Maladaptive coping methods such as using drugs and alcohol to escape from the news of…
The Narcissist and Addiction
What is narcissism? Narcissism refers to a very specific pattern of thinking and behaving. A narcissist is defined as someone who has an unhealthy obsession with themselves. Narcissists are incredibly self-absorbed and typically lack empathy. On the surface, people with narcissism can appear confident. In reality, they’re masking fragile self-esteem. Their desperate need for validation means they behave in ways that can be difficult for those around them. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder Society uses the label of ‘narcissist’ to refer to anyone who behaves in a narcissistic manner. This includes people with…
Stomach Pain After Drinking Alcohol
Why does my stomach hurt when I drink alcohol? A stomach ache after drinking alcohol might seem harmless or a nuisance, but it could be a sign of something more serious. You might have a problem called alcoholic gastritis. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions What is alcoholic gastritis? Gastritis means inflammation of the stomach. The word gastritis comes from gastric which means “of the stomach” and itis which means “inflammation”. The walls of our stomachs are sensitive. If we expose them to excessive volumes of alcohol, they can become irritated and damaged. This damage leads to abdominal pain and…
6 Causes of Alcoholism
Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms The causes of alcoholism remain the subject of debate amongst doctors and psychologists, with many asking themselves “why am I the way I am? Why am I different from my friends and family?” Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Alcohol dependency is a disease, and it doesn’t discriminate. It can affect you, regardless of your age, gender, body, personal beliefs or ethnicity. Those who are vulnerable, struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief or trauma are particularly at risk. If you’re suffering from alcoholism and feel as though your life has become difficult to…
Understanding trauma is understanding your addiction
Trauma & Addiction Trauma affects everyone differently, whether it’s a one-time event or repetitive occurrence. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Whilst many trauma sufferers display symptoms associated with PTSD, others will show resilient responses that fall out of the diagnostic criteria. The impact of trauma can vary. It can be subtle, insidious or outright destructive. [1] What is important to bear in mind is that traumatic stress reactions are normal – they are normal reactions to very abnormal experiences. More on trauma and addiction. Traumatic reactions Traumatic stress often evokes two rather opposite emotional extremes: Feeling too much (overwhelmed)…
7 reasons you might be addicted to alcohol
What Causes Alcoholism? There is great debate about the reasons for alcoholism and what causes it. It boils down to the question “why am I the way I am?” or “why am I different from my friends and family?” Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Often one sibling in a family will be addicted to a substance, but the others live completely free of addiction. There are however factors that occur regularly in the background of many alcoholics and these undoubtedly have a strong influence on a person’s future behaviour. 1. Nature or nurture? Most experts believe that alcohol addiction…
12 step recovery programme: the science behind why it works
It works if you work it, they say, but where is the evidence? Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Fast facts: There are an estimated 4,661 UK AA meetings and 723 English Speaking groups in Continental Europe. AA membership is estimated at between 23,000 and 25,490 in the UK 75% of members stated they have been sober at least 2 years 33% of those with up to 6 months of membership had up to 6 months of sobriety Source AA. They say, it works if you work it, but where is the evidence? In 1989 the American Institute of Medicine…
What exactly are the recovery tools you’ll learn in rehab?
What You Can Expect to Learn in Rehab When you realise that going to rehab is not just about quitting drinking or stopping using, you will begin to understand its true purpose, to make the changes needed to make using a thing of the past. Here we list the 10 major components of a successful treatment Help with thoughts & feelings | Healing trauma | Relationships | Boundaries | Self-care | Healthy routine | Relapse prevention | The 12 steps | Holistic tools | Asking for help Going to rehab gives you the opportunity to change your life and become…
Understanding the Severity of your Addiction
How Bad is Your Addiction? So, you want to know if your addiction is severe enough for treatment. The fact that you’ve found us, or are asking Google questions about your alcohol or drug abuse, might be proof enough that you need help. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions We do not need to waste time detailing physical and psychological signs of addiction – you know the effects alcohol and drugs has over your mind and body, the question is ‘are you bad enough?’ Let’s find out… The quickest and most accurate way to tell Free addiction assessments provided by…
Why see a psychiatrist for addiction?
Psychiatrists Provide Essential Treatment for Addiction Addiction is a challenging struggle, one which is difficult to overcome. However, addiction can be even more impossible to conquer without the right psychiatric help. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Why do I need to see a psychiatrist for a drug or alcohol problem? Intro by Dr Mike McPhillips/Chelsea Consulting Rooms Psychiatrists are qualified medical doctors, who then go on to do a long postgraduate training in all forms of mental disorders. They spend most of their time treating outpatients, but their most unwell patients sometimes become inpatients, so in addition…
Are Weed Hangovers Real? Expert Reveals All
It’s a common belief that, unlike alcohol, weed is hangover-free This derives from the belief that alcohol can be a more harmful intoxicant than weed (also known as cannabis or marijuana). As pioneers in leading treatments for cannabis addiction, we know this is not the case. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions How does marijuana cause a hangover? If you smoke cannabis, you will know of the foggy sort of mornings after late-night smoking and know of the residual effects you feel the next day. The more you smoke weed, the longer it will stay in your system – heavy…
How Many People Seek Rehab for Drug and Alcohol Addiction in the UK?
UK Addiction Facts and Figures Who exactly goes to rehab and why (Figures include charity, local Government and NHS (2019-20, adults, non-private) Some addicts suffer from more than one addiction, ie opiates and alcohol Rehab is loosely defined as a resource of structure residential or non-residential care How many people request drug or alcohol treatment in the UK Over a quarter of a million adults in the UK sought treatment for alcohol or drug addiction. This is largely the same as in 2018/9. Approximately half were offered some sort of treatment. 90% of these patients were seen within the community…
What is crisis care and how to access emergency care for addiction
Crisis Care & Emergency Admissions for Addiction An addictions crisis describes a situation where a someone’s behaviour exposes them to a greater risk of harming themselves or others through drugs or alcohol. You may have heard of this described as ‘rock bottom’. Their mental health disorder and/or substance abuse could have prevented them from being able to care efficiently for themselves or function properly within their communities. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis, at any time in their life. The crisis or breakdown may have been brought on by initial feelings of guilt, anger and grief – but whatever…
Muslim Drug and Alcohol Abuse Rehab
Finding hope again: Essential advice for overcoming alcohol addiction as a Muslim If you’re a Muslim, you will know that drugs and alcohol are Haram (forbidden) and this can lead to a huge sense of stigma and shame surrounding addiction. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions If you’re struggling with dependency or addiction issues, or know someone who is, we know how difficult it can be to admit to the problem, let alone seek any help for it. It’s difficult for the average person to accept their condition, let alone someone bound by faith, pride and their community. “The intense…
How long does a bottle of wine stay in your system
How long does alcohol stay in your system: Blood, urine & breath? Drinking a bottle of wine a day is consuming five times your recommended amount, regardless of whether you’re male or female. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions If your consumption is increasing and you’re struggling to cut back, you’re not alone. In the UK, there are an estimated 586,780 dependent drinkers with only 18% in treatment. For confidential help or advice call us on 0808 115 6925. How long till the alcohol wears off? The number of units you drink will depend on the size and strength of…
Staying sober for one week. What is it like?
Want to reach seven days sober? Take it one hour at a time Whether you’re in treatment, detoxing on your own or in an AA meeting, it’s a really good idea to find someone who has been sober just a little longer than you have. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The old-timers or therapists who have been sober for years are not as much use in the first week of sobriety. They have forgotten the shakes, the rage, the unbearable cravings to use or drink one more time. They might have even forgotten the agony of withdrawal. Once you…
Alternatives to private rehab for addiction recovery
No single treatment type is right for everyone Plenty of people in the public eye talk about going to rehab. Many musicians, actors and artists speak very openly about it, but is this the only type of drug and alcohol addiction treatment on offer? Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The answer is: No, there are in fact other options available to you, and your GP may be a good place to start. Organisations range from NHS treatment to charities and private companies. However, the quality of care varies and many have long waiting lists. Your options often depend on…
There Is No Rehab Centre Near Me, What Should I Do?
Finding a rehab centre is easy, but finding a world-class treatment centre near you is harder. So what should you be looking for? While there are many private residential rehabs in the UK, the number is still in the very low hundreds and they are mainly found in or around cities. Other inpatient NHS treatment centres are available, however, the number of these facilities is just as low and entry waiting lists are long. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Although cities can be well serviced, outside of urban areas rehabs are thin on the ground. So what should you do…
How a day in rehab works, timetables schedules/structure
What A Typical Day in Rehab Looks Like Every patient is an individual and has different needs and requirements. However, there is common ground within all addiction treatment that can be incorporated in a ‘programme.’ Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions When starting one of our addiction recovery programmes, people work with their therapist and consultant psychiatrists on their addiction and co-occurring issues that leads them to use or drink in the first place. Many patients have a dual diagnosis. This means they may present symptoms of poor mental health. This is also treated at Castle Craig. Our model is…
I wish I knew then what I know now: a journey through primary recovery
When you are ill and in the throes of addiction, disasters seem to follow you around When you are ill and in the throes of addiction, disasters seem to follow you around while drinking, lying, sleeping, crying, using, shouting or simply blacking out. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions One thing is certain though: you know absolutely nothing about getting sober. Denial is something that therapists frown on, but for the active alcoholic, it can keep you and your addiction alive. “It’s not too bad, it will get better, she/he will fix me, that car/job/new phone will magically make everything…
Choosing the right rehab. Local, nationwide or abroad, where to go for rehab?
Which where and why? Now that you’ve decided to get help for your drug or alcohol addiction, the next step is to look into the most suitable rehabs that can equip you with the right tools for long-term sobriety. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions City or countryside? The type of location is often a personal choice. Some people find being in the countryside more relaxing, others want to remain in a town or city. It is important to remember that you only really leave the facilities during a stay in residential rehab to go to an AA or NA…
How to Help Someone with an Addiction
How to Help an Addicted Friend or Family member This section will guide you on how to help someone with an addiction. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions When someone struggles with addiction, it can have serious negative effects on their relationships with family, friends, and work colleagues. If you know or suspect that someone in your life suffers from alcohol or drug addiction, you will probably want to help the one that you love, but this can be met with hostility or denial. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing emotional illness, and the path to recovery for someone who…
How to Deal with Stress without Alcohol
Stress is a natural reaction that occurs in response to our everyday experiences, and we all have to deal with it from time to time Whether it comes from our day-to-day responsibilities like work and family, or serious events such as illness or death, stress is an inevitable part of our lives. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Problems may occur, however, if you begin dealing with stressful situations using unhealthy methods, like turning to alcohol. This page will explore how using alcohol to cope with stress can cause further harm to your wellbeing while also outlining helpful ways to…
