At Smarmore Castle, we regularly survey patient satisfaction to make sure we listen and respond to what our patients are saying. Recent surveys from the first nine months of 2020 – including the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic – showed some very positive results: Here are some of the comments given by patients: “Thank you, […]
Category: General
How to Deal With an Alcoholic Parent
Dealing with an alcoholic family member is always a challenge, but it is even more so when that person is a parent. The issues of having a mother or father with alcoholism are way more far-reaching than one would think. If you’re still underage and living with your parents, you could perhaps ignore the problem […]
What is Outpatient Treatment for Alcoholism Like?
Outpatient vs Inpatient for Alcoholism There are many types of approaches to treatment for addiction, which range from self-help to outpatient to inpatient programmes. Each has its benefits and downsides. Inpatient treatment, and the rarer intensive outpatient treatment programmes, are the most effective forms of treatment. But there are a number of reasons that outpatient […]
Feed Me – Sugar, Greed & Addiction. (A film displayed at the HOOKED Exhibition)
Feed Me by Rachel Maclean plunges you into a sickly sweet dystopian journey in a world of hardcore contrasts. Walking into the showing you are greeted by soft yellow bean bags, candyfloss pink shag carpeting and baby blue walls. At first, I admire how from the very moment you enter the room you are plunged […]
HOOKED – An Exhibition on Addiction at the Science Gallery, London
I watch a rather world-weary woman reading aloud – a ‘goodbye letter to alcohol’. It is an exercise that I often use when working with patients at Castle Craig Hospital and will be familiar to anyone with experience of addiction therapy. It is an effective recovery technique. Nothing new there. But this is an artwork, […]
Can Ireland Learn from Britain’s Drinks Lobby?
There’s a useful lesson that Irish politicians can learn from Public Health England, the policy-making body of the NHS: watch out for the drinks industry lobby. In the British media there is a furore over the drinks industry’s influence over Public Health England’s policy on alcohol. Professor Ian Gilmore, Public Health England’s adviser on alcohol, […]
Hip-hop Teaches Millions About Recovery From Addiction
According to Phil Grant, an addiction therapist at Smarmore Castle, an Irish rehab clinic, “music is universal, whether it’s hip-hop, blues, rock, traditional Irish or ancient. Music is a way of communicating that doesn’t need words.” And writing about music is a good way to celebrate Recovery Month. Phil facilitates a drum circle at Smarmore […]
In Recovery, Focus on Essentials
You’ll have no shortage of advice about what to do in recovery. People will tell you to eat right, exercise, go to meetings, work the steps, make new friends, get plenty of sleep, and the list goes on. Most of this is no doubt good advice, especially if it comes from someone you trust, like […]
Is Alcohol Addiction an Allergy?
There is a belief in AA that alcohol addiction is an allergy. This stems from an explanation in the Big Book about why some people are incapable of drinking alcohol in moderation. Dr. William Silkworth describes alcoholism as an allergy in ‘The Doctor’s Opinion’. He writes, ‘We believe […] that the action of alcohol on […]
Dealing with Negativity in Recovery
Negativity is a major warning sign in recovery. People in 12-step programmes know that if someone starts becoming negative, cynical, or pessimistic, relapse is right around the corner. If you find the pink cloud is turning grey and you are chronically dissatisfied, here are some ways to change your perspective. Remember HALT. Start with the […]
How to Find Your Triggers
A trigger is anything that provokes a craving. Cravings don’t usually come out of nowhere. Even if you aren’t always aware of a trigger, something stirred your memories of using. Staying sober requires you are aware of your triggers to you can avoid them as much as possible. If you can’t avoid them, being aware […]
How to Keep Cravings from Ruining Your Recovery
Fighting cravings is perhaps the biggest challenge in recovery. A craving is no mere desire. It’s the feeling that you must have something. At first, cravings are triggered by the pain of withdrawal. During detox, you know you only need to use again and the pain will stop. Later on, cravings are triggered by anything […]