Tag: 12 step program

Sober For Christmas?

sober-for-christmas

The Gift of Sobriety this Christmas! 5 Reasons for Why the Holiday Season is a Good Time to Choose Rehab If an addiction has taken over your life, you are probably going to be approaching the holiday season with a sense of dread or excitement – maybe a bit of both. This is a time of year when there are plenty of excuses to party, but there is also the risk of ruining another Christmas for the people we love. A Safe Haven over the Holiday Season Each January there is a surge in the number of people trying to quit alcohol or other drugs. This isn’t just due to the popularity of New Year’s resolutions – it is also because so many of these individuals hit rock bottom over the holiday season. Maybe you will hit your rock bottom…

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Sober Through Halloween Shenanigens

Sober Through Halloween

Staying Sober through Halloween Hauntings If this is your first year sober at Halloween – Congratulations! If this is your 2nd, 3rd or more Halloweens sober – Congratulations! If you aren’t sober yet, but hoping to be really soon – Congratulations! I guess this covers everybody except the non-alcoholics and the alcoholics who still consider their shenanigans fun. There, now everybody is covered. Some of you may be wondering how to get through this Haunting Holiday without the ‘trick or not-treat’ of picking up a drink or a drug. It can be a daunting haunting! (sorry, that was bad) But seriously what about staying sober through Halloween? Halloween in the Early Days Kids learn really early to love this holiday, especially the ‘addicts in waiting’. What could be more fun than dressing up in creepy clothes, or being an angel…

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When Is It Time To Go To Rehab?

Alcoholism Treatment

‘Now’ is Always The Best Time If things start to go wrong – you don’t have to go with them The Best Time to go to Rehab is Before it is REALLY bad There is a saying in the rooms of recovery that a smart person can learn from their mistakes, but a wise person can learn from other people’s mistakes. When we are talking about the life threatening disease of addiction, we would all be wise not to make the fatal mistakes. The course of alcohol, nicotine and other drug addiction has been well charted over the centuries. Right now in Anytown, Anycountry, you can see the progression of the disease in the newspapers, on the streets, or maybe even in your own bedroom. Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease; untreated it never gets better, always worse. The three places…

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Recovery Outside The Box : The Benefits of Traveling for Addiction Recovery

When is the best time to go to rehab? Rehab now. Serenity Vista rehab in tropical paradise

Benefits of Traveling for Addiction Recovery When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford Traveling for addiction recovery offers fresh perspectives allowing for transformative change. When considering all the options out there for addiction recovery, you will find there are all types of programs. There are in-patient, out-patient, in-state, out-of-state, national, and international addiction treatment facilities. Some drug rehabs are 12 step based or holistic in nature. Many are large institutions, some are small, private alcohol & drug rehabs. Many are local, close to home, others are international in scope in travel destinations abroad, out of country. It is important to consider your needs and resources in choosing the best program for you. There are many options to choose from. There are a lot of good…

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Letting Go in Addiction Recovery…to be Happy, Joyous and Free!

let go and let god

15 Things to Let Go Of   Here’s a list of 15 things to learn to ‘let go’ of, if you want to be truly happy. Letting go can be simple and straightforward, but difficult to consistently apply to our lives. We need to practice them, over and over, so that the newly learned pattern becomes the default, standard behavior. Remind yourself, over and over, to let go of…. 1. Your need to always be right. “Would I rather be right, or happy?” 2. Control 3. Blame 4. Self-defeating self-talk 5. Limiting beliefs about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. “A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” 6. Complaining. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking. 7. Criticism. Give up your need to…

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Why Panama is an Ideal Luxury Rehab Destination

Why Panama for Drug Rehab

Addiction is a global health crisis that isn’t going away anytime soon. An estimated 240 million people worldwide are dependent on alcohol, and 15 million more use injection drugs. Addiction is prevalent in all age groups, socioeconomic brackets and geographic locations, and it’s a stressful and isolating experience no matter who you are. However, for those in the public eye, addiction presents unique challenges that can be difficult to navigate. For executives, political leaders and even pop stars, an extra level of discretion is necessary when treating addiction because of the intense scrutiny public figures face. How is the Experience of Addiction Different for Public Figures? Public figures have a unique experience of addiction. If you’re a politician or high-level business executive, your reputation plays a central role in gaining the trust of voters, political allies, employees and shareholders. If…

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Founder’s Story

Founders, John & Jane Derry sail to Panama to develop Serenity Vista rehab

Founding Director’s Story Background John Derry, B.Sc.Phm., M.A., is Founding Director of Serenity Vista. He has an impressive track record of success throughout an extensive professional career spanning pharmacy, addiction, and management leadership.  John is a licensed Canadian pharmacist and holds a Master of Arts degree in Addiction Counseling from the world-leading Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Read more about John’s professional background here. Driven by Passion John’s passion in life is to help others experience joy in living their fullest potential. John is a devoted father and husband, and role models what he teaches through his own life. John’s life is a manifestation of his values and ongoing journey of spiritual exploration and development. The establishment of Serenity Vista is a reflection of this passion and life journey. John is originally from Canada where he developed a successful career…

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Spending Christmas In Rehab? Yes!

Christmas-in-rehab - Serenity Vista private international holistic rehab

It May Be Your Best Idea Yet to Spend Christmas in Rehab! We wish you a Merry Christmas. Bah Humbug! That’s a sentiment expressed by many people at this time of year. The pressures can be unbearable for such a joyous time, even more so for addicts and alcoholics, even if they are sober in recovery. But Why? Old Wounds Cut Deep Let’s forget about the stresses of buying gifts and how much to spend and cooking and baking and finding the time to do it all. Instead, look deeper into the issues of why Christmas is such a difficult time for the active addict or alcoholic, or the clean and sober addict in recovery. Often addiction has its roots in the family. Whether your family is ‘picture perfect’, or there is some past abuse, trauma, or conflict, Christmas means…

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California Wildfires Highlight the Need for More Oversight of Rehab Facilities

California Wildfires Rehab

Wildfires in California Spotlight the Rehab Riviera The recent wildfires that tore through California further underscored the need for better oversight of addiction treatment facilities in the area. The human cost was high all over the state, but the fires in Southern California have harmed an especially vulnerable group of people: people in the midst of their addiction treatment. The Woolsey fire in Southern California hit LA hard: Malibu was put under a mandatory evacuation order, which included all sober living and treatment facilities in the area. Malibu has about one sober living or treatment center per square mile, and as the fires raged on, it became clear that many of them were underprepared for a natural disaster. The centers struggled to hold onto clients rather than refer them to other facilities, putting people in the early stages of recovery…

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