Holistic Luxury Alcohol, Nicotine and Other Drug Rehab in Costa Rica or Panama

Why would people choose to come to a country in Central America like Costa Rica or Panama for drug treatment? Right now, top of mind, is the cold freeze going on in North America. Drug rehab is definitely not a vacation, but if you can fly to a beautiful tropical country as easily as flying to cold Minnesota, for example, why not?

The Republic of Panama, in Central America was carefully chosen as the location for Serenity Vista Addiction Drug Rehab, especially the temperate, beautiful verdant mountain highlands of Boquete in the province of Chiriqui. The weather here is likened to an eternal spring, warm and balmy, neither too hot nor humid. Both the Pacific or Atlantic oceans are an easy drive to the hot tropical sun and beaches.

Some rehabs utilize the local YMCA for recreation, and some have their own private luxury gym or pool. At Serenity Vista the guests take an overnight sail on the rehab’s own 36 ft sailboat, Decision, drop anchor at a deserted white sand, coconut palm covered island and swim with the dolphins and tortugas (sea turtles) to shore. Or they can go rappelling in the hot sun down a refreshing waterfall cascade with Panama’s passionate native son rock climber, Cesar Mendelaz. Or maybe this week it will be horseback riding through the rolling green hills of Caldera to the natural sacred hotsprings for a contemplative warm soak and then cool river swim. Zip lining, amazing hiking, coffee plantation tours and bike riding are other options.

Then there is the food. Serenity Vista’s chef is a vivacious and talented young woman dedicated to providing nutritious, delicious, locally organic farmer sourced food where ever possible. Boquete is the fruit and vegetable basket of Panama and it is wonderful. The guests at Serenity Vista start every day with a freshly made fruit smoothie alongside their lovingly prepared breakfast. The food is just amazing. Breakfast is right after the morning walk through the flowering countryside with Ceiba, the chocolate Labrador pet dog, and adorable canine therapist. Throughout the day Ceiba is available for love, hugs, stick or orange retrieving and general enjoyment for each encounter. The hectare of property has a river, and a creek, citrus trees, bougainvillea and hibiscus, eucalyptus and strategically placed hammocks.

Other reasons one might choose to leave the country is for privacy. There is a big difference between secrecy and privacy, and leaving the North American governmental medical system allows a person to keep their rehabilitation their own business. Plus the likelihood of running into acquaintances both at the facility or the community is almost nil.

Boquete has a thriving recovery community with many weekly 12 Step meetings and 12 Step fellowship activities. Rehab is still hard work, but being in such a warm, friendly community make the transition to recovery easier. If you or a loved one are ready to consider drug rehab, or alcohol treatment, we encourage you to look at your Central American options. Serenity Vista has a hammock here with your name on it.

International Drug Rehab. It works.

Serenity Vista Panama, located in Central America, is right next door to Costa Rica. Testimonial Review from Canada. Explore your options for treatment. Stay warm.

Vive Boquete: [News Boquete] Fwd: Serenity Vista Addresses Nicotine Addiction

Vive Boquete: [News Boquete] Fwd: Serenity Vista Addresses Nicotine Addiction

Serenity Vista Panama Treatment Endorses Consumer Review Site | PRLog

Serenity Vista Panama Treatment Endorses Consumer Review Site | PRLog

Serenity Vista Addiction Recovery Retreat Panama -

Our inaugural newsletter. See why Serenity Vista Addiction  Recovery Retreat and Rehab is the affordable recovery rehab that works. Discover. Recover. Transform..

Serenity Vista is a special place of healing, where up to 8 guests come to find freedom from addiction, peace and serenity.

If you are struggling with staying sober, and want help, we know how, and will help you.

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Finding Joy in the Holidays

Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart... Unknown

Apparently the holiday season is now in full swing, because advertisers are working themselves into their usual frenzy and decorations are starting to appear around town. Making elaborate plans for the holidays can set us up for stress by creating expectations that are difficult or impossible to meet. Remember last year? Did you find yourself trying to squeeze in one more social event and finish the shopping and the perfect gift wrapping of the perfect gifts and do all the baking and get the decorations up outside and find the perfect tree and visit with all your relatives (even the ones you aren't particularly close to) AND find peace and joy? Sound familiar?

Sound impossible? Click here for easy to follow instructions for joy.

This blog posting is written by Karen Graham of Panacea Canada

In recovery, it is extra important to glide through the holidays with serenity. Family often brings out old toxic roles that a person in recovery is trying hard to change. Read this blog, and find some tool for peace of mind.

Codependency - Time for Rehab!

Codependency is a poorly defined term describing relationship difficulties where obsession about another person in the relationship dominates and presents personal and interpersonal dysfunction. It is prevalent yet essentially overlooked from a treatment perspective. There are no 'codependency treatment centers'. The codependent in a relationship often worries about their loved one struggling with addiction, and may 'send' him or her off to rehab. But what about the codependent? Left at home, nothing changes, and the addict may return home clean, sober, and happy. But what about you? Are you happy? Do you deserve rehab too?

If addiction is a chronic, progressive, family disease, and everyone in the family system is affected, then why is it that rehab is typically only for the alcoholic or addict?

Adult children of alcoholics (ACOA) and other forms of codependency are just as significant and impactful as addiction to alcohol, other drugs, or behaviors such as gambling. The alcoholic or addict goes off to rehab and comes home a new person: freed of destructive patterns of thinking and behaving, relieved of shame, guilt and remorse, and with new life skills for living life on life's terms, one day at a time.

But what about you? Perhaps you have grown up with an alcoholic parent. Or you have been in relationship, or marriage, with a suffering alcoholic or addict. You worry about others, try to make things right, give of yourself endlessly, feel upset, disrespected, or taken for granted by the way others treat you, attempt to control people, places or things, feel empty, despair, lesser than, shame, or anger. You feel alone in a sea of people you care for. No one understands.

You need and deserve help too! You too should have a healing, nurturing place where you can go to heal. Have a break. Take time for you. Restore and renew.

Take time for you. Find out who You really are. Get help focusing on your process of change! You can heal from and let go of past hurts, stop worrying about the future, and learn skills for living life, YOUR life, in this moment, to your fullest. And you deserve to have fun too.

The mad cycle of addiction within the entire family can finally be broken. And it starts with you... not the other person who has always seemed to be 'the problem'. It's your time to be free!

Codependency rehab. It's time... and it's your turn!

John Derry is founder and director of Serenity Vista Recovery Retreat. Codependency is one of Serenity Vista's specializations. Visit http://www.serenityvista.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Derry

Nicotine Addiction and Drug Rehab

Get the Help You Need

Many people who are in recovery from other drugs or behaviours continue to smoke cigarettes or cigars. Sooner or later, if you are in a 12 Step program, practicing Step 6 and 7 and 12, you need to address your nicotine addiction. When it seems impossible to quit, it is time to surrender. Underlying the physical addiction, which can be successfully treated with nicotine patches, is a rebelliousness which will eventually prove fatal. If you have tried many times to quit, and find yourself with a cigarette between your fingers again - get the emotional help you really need. It is becoming increasingly common for people to attend drug rehab for nicotine addiction.  Serenity Vista Addiction Recovery Retreat uses Nicotine Anonymous materials, as well as a full complement of holistic therapies.

If you are still smoking, you are an active drug addict. That may sound harsh, especially if you are in recovery, and have stopped using alcohol or other drugs...except nicotine.

Tobacco use kills more people than all other illicit drugs combined, yet this is often denied in the recovery community. Back in the ‘old days’ of 12 Step meetings, one of the first basic jobs for newcomers was to wash ashtrays. AA meant coffee and cigarrettes. Even the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous said not to worry about smoking cigarettes. It is very noteworthy though, that the two co-founders, Dr. Bob, and Bill W., both died early deaths from emphysema due to smoking. So, times have changed, no one denies the toxic properties of tobacco anymore, and the powerful addictive forces of nicotine.

Commonly, people in 12 Step communities strongly suggest to newcomers that they should NOT quit smoking.  The message is, don’t quit tobacco and your other drug of choice at the same time. This was the prevalent thinking in...READ MORE

Kleenex Box Super Hero

The scene: A 12 Step meeting, a person sharing begins to cry, the Kleenex Box Super Hero arrives with a flourish.

Recognize the scene? You may have played one of the starring roles. What is really going on here is an excellent example of unhealthy co-dependent and manipulative behaviour. What?! Let's examine the dynamics.

When a person shares in a room full of 12 Step peers, they are often getting in touch with feelings that have long been buried. It can take considerable effort for a person to feel safe enough with feelings of vulnerability to really allow themselves to express their emotions. You've seen it, after a lot of talking, a person may begin to tear up, perhaps to really cry, or even sob. One of the wonderful things about 12 Step Rooms is that when a person is sharing, everyone is paying attention, and respectfully listening, probably empathizing and relating. There is a sacred focus in the room, where the person is being held in love and fellowship by the others present. Most people are intently connecting with what the speaker is conveying through words and emotions, and the speaker has an opportunity to feel this connection, and feel enough trust to continue with their painful process.

Enter the Kleenex Box Super Hero (KBSH). Click here for the full story!

Live and Let Live.

Retreat and Counselling for any persons desiring peace of mind and serenity. Treat yourself to the beauty of Panama, and  learn the subtle ways you may be sabotaging your own happiness.

Surrender to Win - Codependency Treatment and Counselling

Surrender to Win - Serenity Vista - Panama

Surrender is one of those words right up there with 'humility', 'discipline' and 'obedience'
However, in recovery we learn to look at things in a new light.  If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.  Surrender to Win. Find Victory in Defeat.

www.serenityvista.com

12 Step Retreat and Counselling

Legacy

Mom was a woman who would have given whatever she could to see others happy, and always put herself last. – Taken from an obituary column in the local newspaper.

This little sentence says a whole lot about the behaviour of the woman who just passed. Not knowing this person, but based on this description, she was likely a people-pleaser and codependent, maybe even a long-suffering martyr.

What is it like to live with someone who only wants to see others happy, and always puts themselves last? Not very genuine or mutual that’s for sure. This is what codependency and people-pleasing is all about, trying (unconsciously?) to manipulate other people with self-serving behaviour dressed up as generosity and kindness. While growing up in an unpredictable home life, people tend to find ways to keep safe, even when doing so can mean dishonesty and denial of real feelings. These unsatisfying coping skills become the barriers to authentic relationships, and cause real damage to others in the family. Addiction is a family disease, and the whole family suffers.

We have seen it again and again with people who come into recovery, whether they are the substance user or not. People who have spent their whole lives trying to make other people happy and always putting themselves last are almost always suffering from feelings of anger and resentments. They don’t understand why they are continually victimized and taken advantage of by people. They tell us they are not appreciated for their acts of kindness; they are ignored and left behind, or held in contempt by others. Nothing is their fault, or the flip side, everything is their fault. These people are incredibly lonely, but keep trying with their flawed coping skills to keep people close.

Why is it so important for someone to see others happy? Generally the sentiment behind the person wanting everyone around them to be happy is to avoid any uncomfortable feeling within themselves. It can be very distressing to see someone else express emotions like unhappiness, anger or frustration. Listen to these commonly used expressions of the codependent, “ There there, don’t cry”, “It will work out”, “There is a silver lining behind every cloud”, “Everything happens for a reason”, “ He/She didn’t mean it like that, don’t be mad”, “Here Honey, have a drink/meal/money/gift/car keys or ...” , and any number of other platitudes designed to stop the flow of emotion that is causing the uncomfortable feelings in the codependent. Wanting everyone to be happy is wanting people to be inauthentic so as not to cause change. Being inauthentic means one can never be really and truly happy, just good at pretending it.

For the woman in the obituary, it is too late to change. She has passed on her life lessons to her family, which is upholding their mother’s behaviour of codependency as something to admire, and probably emulate. While we are still alive, there is opportunity to learn healthy new skills, and pass them on. Maybe it will be our grandchildren who will best learn them from us. Life-long behaviours and tools are not relearned overnight, they take time and guidance and a lot of action. Coming to Serenity Vista Codependent Retreat and Sober Vacation is the perfect opportunity to have a safe place to examine your life and your coping skills. You can learn what being authentic really means, and how to encourage those around you to be authentic, even when there are feelings of unhappiness, anger or frustration.

Compare the obituary below:

Mom was a woman who learned to love her life, her spirituality, herself, and those around her. She took risks and followed her own dreams. She moved outside of her comfort zones and respectfully encouraged others to do the same through her examples. She exuded her own happiness and people felt enriched by being in her company. People knew they were safe with her and were often challenged to look at life in a new and exciting way. 

What kind of obituary do you hope your grandchildren write about you?

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more blog articles...

Gratitude in Recovery from Codependence

Attitude of Gratitude

Some people say  A.A. should stand for Attitude Adjustment, and that is exactly what has to happen if a person has any chance at all at staying sober for any length of time. Here are some tips to help you get to an attitude of gratitude.

Make a gratitude list. I suggest leaving the keyboard, and writing this out the old-fashioned way with pen and paper. If you are having trouble coming up with things you are grateful for, think about some really big things like breathing, eating, eyesight, friends and so on. Even if you don't really feel grateful, write them down anyway, and in the process, you may find your attitude adjusting.
Drop blame...

Click here for the rest of the article

Happy Mother's Day?

Mother's Day

Now there is an emotionally charged topic – for almost everyone! Popular culture would have us believe that all mothers should be, or have been, nurturing, loving and sweet, dishing out wisdom, unconditional love, and healthy delicious meals. Well, that would be nice, and in some cases this is true. Unfortunately however, especially in homes affected by addiction, there are often big helpings of dysfunction served as the main course, if not also the side dishes and dessert.

If you grew up in an alcoholic home, your mom may have been either the alcoholic or the co-dependent enabler, or both. Your mom may still be drinking, or making excuses for your father’s or sibling’s addict behaviour. Your mom may be trying to keep you, or pull you back into the toxic family dynamic where you got sick. Moms, like any other family member suffering from the disease of alcoholism, may have a large arsenal of behaviors that attempt to engage or snag you back into the family dramas.

Recovery can be, but is not always about reconciliation with family. Recovery and healthy behaviour often means detaching and distancing yourself from toxic situations, even if those situations include your mother and other close family members.

This Mother’s Day, my hope for you is authenticity, and the courage to ....click here to read the full article...

Find out if codependency

 is an issue in your life. 

There is help.

Zen Ghost Story - Serenity Vista - - Panama

Zen Ghost Story - Serenity Vista - - Panama

I work with people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They are besieged by ways of thinking that destroy peace. Working in drug rehab is very rewarding. I get to comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comforted. Using a variety of techniques I challenge our guests to look at things in new ways. I love to tell them, change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change. To illustrate and illumine some new angles, stories can be powerful and non-threatening tools. Here is one of the Zen stories I use - Zen doesn't work for everyone - but when it does - watch out!

The Bean Counter

Takashi's jealous wife was very ill. Before the woman died, she made her husband promise that he would remain ever faithful to her even after death. "If you betray me, I will come back to haunt you!" 
click here for the full story...