Serenity and Peace in Recovery from Addiction

STRESS REDUCTION ADDICTION TREATMENT REHAB

Empathetic and Respectful Drug Rehab in Panama

Empathetic and Respectful Drug Rehab in Panama

Here's a new slogan for you. One day at a time, you can get and stay sober and emotionally healthy.

CONTACT:

Serenity Vista Retreat, Panama

15100 Jaramillo Arriba, Boquete

Chiriqui Province, Republic of Panama

International (US based number) – 786-245-4067

Local – 507 6839 0569

Email: info@serenityvista.com

GETTING HERE:

Travel information can be found here. Find us on Google Maps here.

International: 786-245-4067

Smoking Tobacco While in Drug Treatment

Most traditional 'drug rehabs' are a smokey affair. Why do people smoke while in drug treatment?

People who continue to use nicotine have much higher relapse rate with alcohol and other drugs.

We don't think there could ever be a better time to arrest nicotine addiction than in treatment. Nicotine patches taper the physical addiction (not gum or e-cigarettes, which enforce craving and satisfying), and all the other supports are in place for the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects an addict needs help with.

The old thinking is that one addiction should be treated at a time.  It is common knowledge amongst addiction professionals today that the strongest reason behind nicotine use in treatment is financial. They want to keep their tobacco addicted staff, and they don’t want to lose potential clients who will balk at addressing all of their addiction issues at the same time.

Tobacco is the most lethal drug we know of, killing more people than all other drug addictions combined. Nicotine addiction kills, and we all know the effects of 2nd hand smoke. Bill W. and Dr. Bob both died of tobacco related disease.

Serenity Vista Addiction Recovery Retreat in the mountain highlands of Boquete, Panama is a world class facility that knows how to treat nicotine addiction, just like all the others.

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?

Take the Codependency Self-Assessment

Make your reservation before July 31, 2012 and save 15%!

Fall Serenity Vista retreats begin September 1, 2012.

Spaces are limited, so book your recovery retreat program early, and save!



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

Why Panama - Serenity Vista - - Panama

Why Panama - Serenity Vista - - Panama

Would You Rather Be Right Or Happy - Serenity Vista - - Panama

Would You Rather Be Right Or Happy - Serenity Vista - - Panama



This seems like a crazy question at first doesn't it? Most people emphatically answer "Both!" And they believe they are right. The truth is, you can't be both. Think about the many arguments that you have had, or may be actively embroiled in. Most codependents, addicts and other spiritually unwell people will attempt to prove their 'rightness' right into the grave.

When everything changes in recovery, so does the need to 'save face' and be right at any cost. A person who learns to work their steps and live by spiritual principles will choose peace-of-mind and serenity, and thus emotional /physical sobriety over all else. Ask yourself, "Is this worth losing my serenity or getting drunk over? Is this worth dying over?" That is the bottom line for codependents and addicts in recovery.

Let someone else take on the world. In recovery we believe in keeping our own side of the street clean and know that "what other people think about us in not our business".

Find out if codependency is an issue in your life. There is help.