Castle Craig

12/12/2025

Recovery is full of firsts, and spending Christmas sober may be one of yours. Here are a few tips from our clinical team to help you stay grounded through the holiday season.

1. Plan before the party starts
Try fitting a 12 Step meeting in before festivities begin. Many groups meet on Christmas Eve, and you will always find additional options online.

2. When a craving hits
Reach out to someone you trust. Simply saying "I'm having a craving" out loud can take the edge off and help it pass.

3. At the dinner table
It is completely ok to say you are not drinking. If you would rather not explain further, "I’m doing an alcohol-free Christmas" is all you need to say.

4. Surround yourself with support
Spend time with people who make you feel safe and understood. You do not have to attend every event or show up everywhere.

5. You’re allowed to say no
Practice saying no without overthinking it. You do not need a reason, and you do not owe anyone an explanation.

If you need support this Christmas, Castle Craig is here for you.
Reach out to our team for confidential advice and help.

08/12/2025

Castle Craig has been a place of recovery since 1988, but the estate itself has lived many lives. This December, we are sharing weekly glimpses into the past of a home that now plays a role in shaping people’s futures.

This week’s theme is “the eye is in the detail.”
The image we are sharing brings together three small but significant details from the estate’s history.

• The Castlecraig Library stamp, a small crest found in rare books that still surface in collections around the world. It is one of the few surviving traces of the estate’s remarkable library, dispersed in 1903, yet still connected to Castle Craig through this single elegant mark.

• A close-up of Delft tiles from one of the original fireplaces, a reminder of the craftsmanship throughout the house. Their colour, pattern and age reveal how everyday rooms once carried artistic touches that have survived for generations.
These details, whether architectural, artistic or intellectual, offer a quieter way of understanding the many lives the estate has lived.

To learn more about Castle Craig today, follow the link in the comments.

01/12/2025

Castle Craig has been a place of recovery since 1988, but the estate itself has lived many lives. Throughout December, we’ll be sharing a weekly glimpse into the history of a home that now plays a role in shaping people’s futures.

This week, we’re exploring some of the stories held within our grounds.

One of the images shows a seventeenth-century map where Castle Craig appears not as Castle Craig but as “Kirk Urd.” This is an old Celtic name that means “watch-place,” a reference to the defensive tower on the site that dates back to at least 1650. These maps were produced during an age of state-building and scientific awakening, when governments wanted to understand their territories more precisely and scholars were driven by a Renaissance belief that the world could be measured and ordered.

Next on our tour is a photographic postcard from the 1910s. It was created at a time when postcard collecting was at its peak, helped by the rise of mass tourism and photography.

And finally, we’re sharing a late-Georgian engraving of Castle Craig. Its balanced, symmetrical architecture reflects the period’s sense of order, while the lone figure with a horse and dog hints at a shift toward seeing rural life with more reflection and imagination than status alone.

To learn more about Castle Craig as it is today, follow the link in the comments.

26/11/2025

Movember puts men's health in the spotlight for good reason. The need for support doesn’t disappear when December arrives.

The campaign focuses on everything from mental health and su***de prevention to prostate and testicular cancer. All of which don't just deserve open conversation, they require it for early intervention to be possible.

In the UK, 75% of people who die by su***de are men, and research shows men often seek help later and less frequently than women.
For some, alcohol or drugs become a coping mechanism during periods of stress or emotional strain. While it may bring momentary relief, it often worsens anxiety, low mood, or pressure over time.

We know it takes courage to ask for support.
We also know that a single honest conversation can be a turning point.
If you’re concerned about your mental health or your relationship with alcohol or other substances, we’re here. Safe, professional, and without pressure.

14/11/2025

Did you know the hidden epidemic of steroid use is becoming a “ticking time bomb”?
Dr Peter McCann from Castle Craig talks to 1919 Magazine about how performance-enhancing drugs are easy to access, often seen as lifestyle choices, and yet the health risks are very real.
Read the full interview:

The use of Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs is on the rise, but the long-term impacts on health are being ignored – with devastating consequences

11/11/2025

Set in the peaceful Scottish countryside, Castle Craig offers a private and calming environment for recovery.
Here, patients can focus fully on treatment and begin rebuilding their lives in comfort and privacy.

Find out more:

Castle Craig - private drug and alcohol rehab since 1988. 24/7 medical care, evidence-based programme, dedicated team of therapists.

09/11/2025

This Remembrance Sunday, we pause to honour the sacrifices of our armed forces and their families. At Castle Craig, we deeply respect their bravery and strength. Our commitment to supporting veterans and those in recovery remains unwavering.

05/11/2025

Withdrawing from drugs like pregabalin can be uncomfortable and challenging. Symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and physical discomfort are common, and going through it alone can feel overwhelming.

At Castle Craig, we provide a safe, supportive environment with medical supervision throughout the withdrawal process, and clinical team is here to help you through each stage with care and compassion.

If you're considering stopping pregabalin, you don't have to do it alone. Support is available.

➡️ Find out more:

Learn about pregabalin withdrawal symptoms, timeline and rehab treatment options so you can begin your recovery journey with knowledge, support and expert care.

03/11/2025

Join our caring culinary team at Castle Craig

Are you passionate about food and making a difference in people's lives? We're looking for a part-time catering assistant to help prepare meals that support our patients on their journey to recovery.

Why Castle Craig?
- Competitive hourly rate of £12.21
- Complimentary lunch and access to our on-site gym
- Be part of a compassionate, purpose-driven team in a beautiful countryside setting

Hours: 16 hours per week (flexible shifts)
Location: Near West Linton

If this sounds like the right fit for you, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply here: https://loom.ly/fBx4tAo

29/10/2025

Are you highly organised, people-focused, and looking for a career in HR?

Castle Craig Hospital is seeking a part-time HR Administrator (24 hours per week) to join our dedicated team. Located in the peaceful countryside near West Linton, Castle Craig has supported recovery from addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions for over 30 years. The working environment is respectful, collaborative, and grounded in a shared purpose.

Role Responsibilities:

Support recruitment and onboarding
Maintain accurate HR records and databases
Assist with employee well-being and engagement activities
Provide administrative support across all core HR functions

This role is ideal for someone with administrative experience and a strong interest in HR. A background in healthcare or a CIPD Level 3 qualification (or working towards) would be an advantage.

If you’re looking for meaningful work in a values-led organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

CLOSING DATE: Friday 14th November, 2025.

Apply today: https://loom.ly/EzmC1kc

20/10/2025

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 💗
Did you know alcohol is one of the top three preventable cancer risks? Even small amounts raise the chance of breast cancer by increasing oestrogen, damaging DNA, and causing inflammation.

💡 Cutting down helps lower your risk — and if alcohol feels hard to control, support is here.

👉 Learn more at Castle Craig (link in bio)