Safe & Expert Addiction Treatment & Detox
People who are alcohol and drug-dependent often suffer from some degree of initial insomnia. This often raises the question of whether sleeping medication should be prescribed.
In answering this question it is important to remember the relapsing nature of addiction. Chemical dependence is the term we use to explain that alcoholics and addicts are vulnerable to the effects of mind-altering substances, and using sleeping medication may trigger craving and the compulsion to use.
Insomnia During Detox
Remember that sleep disturbance is common in patients who are detoxifying from drugs. Some degree of insomnia at the outset is therefore inevitable.
Very often when patients report that they did not sleep at all we find this usually means that they dozed, or slept fitfully but did not feel refreshed. Nursing Staff will reassure you that it is usual to have some interference with sleep during detoxification and this will improve.
When insomnia is mild or moderate, it is preferable for patients to use non-drug methods of resolving insomnia. When insomnia is very severe we may prescribe a hypnotic for a brief period to restore normal sleep patterns. Before recommending the prescribing of mood-altering medication our nurses will verify insomnia by undertaking a check on sleep patterns for three nights.
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Natural Solutions
Our staff will help you to anticipate what to expect during withdrawal and equip you with some useful, natural strategies to deal with insomnia:
Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques are one of the most effective ways to increase sleep time, fall asleep faster, and feel more rested in the morning. They require a minimum of 20 minutes before going to bed. There are many different techniques outlined further in another pamphlet, but they include:
Visualisation
Imagining a relaxing scene. Try it in bed before falling asleep. Involve all your senses and free your mind from negative thoughts. If you’re imagining yourself on a tropical island, think of the way the warm breeze feels against your skin, imagine the sweet scent of the flowers, and listen to the waves.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Helps to free the brain of thoughts that disturb sleep.
Yoga
Combines deep breathing, meditation, and stretching. A Harvard study found that daily yoga for eight weeks improved total sleep time.
Avoid Daytime Naps
Sleeping during the day will disturb your nighttime sleep pattern.
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Diet
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, free from artificial stimulants to restore nervous system functioning. Avoid sugary snacks around bedtime as this leads to uneven blood sugar levels which disrupt sleep. Tryptophan is an amino acid that promotes sleep. Carbohydrate snacks such as whole grain crackers or bananas before bedtime raises the levels of tryptophan and may help calm the brain.
Relaxation Music
Listening to calming music helps to relax the mind before sleep. Ask the nurses for a CD or iPod to listen to our specially chosen relaxation music.
Aromatherapy
The scent of lavender has long been used to help people fall asleep and research is starting to confirm its sedative qualities. Lavender works quickly and has been found to lengthen total sleep time and increase deep sleep. Lavender sachets and essential oils are available from the medical centre. A session of aromatherapy may be advised.
Exercise
Exercise promotes deep sleep and counteracts muscle tension and stress which build up in the body. If you have difficulty sleeping we will advise you to go for a brisk walk or jog during the day. Don’t exercise just before bedtime.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been demonstrated in a number of studies to aid sleep and is one of the alternative therapies that we provide every week.
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Start Your Recovery Journey with Smarmore Castle Clinic
Avoid Caffeine
Avoid caffeine 4-6 hours before bedtime. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate. Consumption of herbal teas containing chamomile and lemon balm or hot milk drinks is helpful in promoting sleep.
- How to Access Rehab With Health Insurance
For those experiencing existing mental health conditions in Ireland, there are private medical insurers who can help you cover treatment. As addiction experts, we know that receiving the appropriate care and support when you have a mental health disorder is pivotal to attaining long-lasting recovery. Below, we will go through the various health insurance options to help you understand your options when it comes to seeking private residential care for substance abuse. Please note that there is no guarantee that you can be covered for all addiction problems as policies are always assessed on a case-by-case basis. Find Out More
- My Loved One Doesn’t Want Help, What Do I Do?
You can’t force someone to go to rehab. At the end of the day, it needs to be their decision because they are the ones that need to be open to turning their lives around. There are ways in which you can encourage someone to enter treatment, one of these ways is via an intervention with a trained interventionist, who facilitates an honest discussion between family members and the addict. This is something Smarmore Castle can arrange – contact us today.
- Which Drugs Does Smarmore Castle Detox From?
We can detox people from any drugs whether they are illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ketamine; or prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines or zopiclone, oxycodone, zolpidem, klonopin, methadone, cannabis; and legal drugs such as alcohol.
- How Long Is the Treatment Programme?
Our treatment programme starts at 4 weeks and is flexible in length, giving you the opportunity to extend for a longer period if you need it.
- Do You Treat Dual Diagnosis?
All patients are reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist in the first week and we can diagnose and provide treatment for a number of co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Do I Need to Be Abstinent Before Admission?
Our medically managed detoxification with 24/7 medical cover means that we can perform complete and complex detoxes at Smarmore Castle. You don’t need to be abstinent before arrival.
- How Do I Get To Rehab Safely?
Smarmore Castle is one hour north of Dublin international airport and we can arrange a driver to collect you and bring you straight to us for free.
We can also arrange a ‘sober transport’ service with a trusted driver, from anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland, at an additional cost.