Tag: john derry

Happy – Life Before & After Addiction

Happy recovery. Serenity Vista Alcohol & Drug Rehab, Alcoholism

Happy – A Time Before Addiction Do you remember being happy before addiction? Do you remember a more innocent era? Being happy? Can you recount a time when you could wake up and look at yourself in the mirror guilt free? Back then, you felt with every fiber of your being that life was good and held immense promise for you. Recall those early and easy days free of struggle. Sure, there were bad days. But even on your worst day, when things felt out of control, you found comfort knowing that things would work out. How great it would be to return to that point in your life. To simply be happy. Can you remember a time when the future looked bright? Perhaps you were young, starting out your life on your own. It was a time when the world…

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Spring into Full Addiction Recovery

Full addiction recovery rehab for your fresh start at life transformation and renewal.

The Renewal of Spring: Starting Afresh with Addiction Recovery! Spring has arrived! After another long and dark winter, the ice is finally melting and rivers are flowing again. The days are becoming longer and lighter, and parades of migrating birds signal brighter times ahead. When alcohol or other drugs have been a problem, this is your time to spring into full recovery! Spring is an invigorating season for most everyone. For those struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism, it is an especially exciting time of renewal and a perfect metaphor for the possibility of healing, renewal, and a new life in recovery. Awaken to possibility Spring is a season of change and new beginnings, and a time for awakening. Look around. As your senses awaken, you’ll see the world around you also stirring to life. There is a rush of real…

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Ready for Rehab?

Are you Ready for Rehab?

When is it Time to go to Rehab? Today is your day! If you are tired of the destructive cycle of alcoholism or drug addiction, tired of lying, tired of regretting, and tired of just being tired – today could be your day. Today could be the day you become ready for rehab. This could be the day you begin living the life you know you were intended to live. You feel it. You know it’s there inside of you. You know that when you look in the mirror, although you see someone in pain and making daily mistakes, you know that’s not the real you. You know there is more. Despite your best efforts to stop drinking or using drugs to get clean and sober, you just can’t seem to reach it. Or at least to stay stopped. Sometimes…

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Winter Blues? Sad? Struggling with Addiction?

Hibiscus flower at drug rehab

Struggling with Addiction this Winter? It’s dark in the morning and dark in the afternoon. The holidays are over and spring is way off in the far too-distant future. It’s cold. This is the season when depression sets in deep. As if compulsive drug use, drug addiction, drinking alcohol and alcoholism aren’t difficult enough, this time of year makes struggling with addiction extra unbearable. Winter blues (or seasonal affective disorder, SAD), pill taking, depression, alcoholic drinking and addiction often go hand in hand. This is also an especially trying time for anyone in recovery to be prone to relapse. Dark and cold days give way to long and icy nights. For anyone recovering or suffering from alcoholism or other addiction, this time of year is fraught with the temptation to try to escape with drugs and alcohol. If this sounds familiar…

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How Do I Get My Mom Into Rehab?

Treatment Abroad for Drug Rehab

How Do I Get My Mom Into Rehab? Mom Drinks Too Much Growing up, Mom was always fun to be around. We had lots of people around the house, and she was a great hostess for parties. My friends all liked Mom and the casual atmosphere of our home. Alcohol was almost always the substrate of the fun. There was a lot of booze – but it seemed under control,(controlled drinking) and only on weekends. And vacations. Lots of vacations. I thought all families were like this, and it wasn’t until my early adulthood that I began to see things differently. I Don’t Drink But I Understand Alcoholism I’m lucky; I don’t even really like the taste of alcohol. However, over the years I have learned a whole lot about alcoholism. Watching my family members and some friends and business associates,…

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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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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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Alcohol & Drug Addiction in Canada

Canada flags

Alcohol & Drug Addiction in Canada—Where Can I Go for the Best Individualized Rehab? Serenity Vista is owned and operated by Canadians And professionally endorsed by world renowned addiction specialists From Canadian Roots, Panama was Chosen as the Ideal Location for Serenity Vista Serenity Vista was developed and continues to operated by healthcare professionals from Canada. The Founding Director, John Derry, born & raised in Sarnia, Ontario, developed a passion for helping people suffering from addiction through a distinguished career in clinical pharmacy, medical information, and drug safety in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver BC. Following addiction graduate study at Hazelden in Minessota (now Hazelden Betty Ford), Panama was carefully chosen as the perfect location to develop Serenity Vista Alcohol & Drug Rehab. Boquete, Panama was unique in meeting all important characteristics: stable, safe, developed country and governance, democratic, warm climate,…

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