Welcoming Our New Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hans Watson

It is my pleasure to announce Hans Watson, D.O., as Recovery Ways’ Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Watson trained in general psychiatry at Wright State University where he dedicated considerable time to aviation medicine.  It was there he became a certified Flight Surgeon for the United States Air Force.  Dr. Watson is a nationally recognized expert in multiple areas including psychotherapy, post-traumatic stress…

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PTSD and the Pandemic

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be redefined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,  says Varun Choudhary, M.D., in a recent post for Addiction Professional. “One of the biggest concerns keeping behavioral health specialists up at night is the emotional weight of the coronavirus outbreak.”  The number of Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety has tripled…

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The Power of Gratitude in Recovery

“Both ancient teachings and modern medical research agree that one of the quickest, most direct routes to restoring harmony and balance in our lives is to foster gratitude and appreciation,” wrote Joel and Michelle Levey in a 2011 article entitled “Understanding The Science Of Gratitude.”  “The moment you shift from a mindstate of negativity or…

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New LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Plan for Utah

Data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance shows that nationally, LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth. A new prevention plan by the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition says, “Utah consistently ranks in the top ten in the United States for suicide deaths. LGBTQ+ adults and youth experience…

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Dangerous Misuse of Anxiety Drug Phenibut on the Rise

A dangerous substance from the 1960s is making a comeback in the United States. Phenibut, a central nervous system depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions was developed in the Soviet Union for medical use in the 1960s. It is still used in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia to treat…

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The Dangers of Unprocessed Trauma and Compassion Fatigue in First Responders

“Society has long recognized the physical demands of first responders; however, what is less formally acknowledged are the negative psychological outcomes,” wrote Bowers, Beidel, and Marks in Mental Health Intervention and Treatment of First Responders and Emergency Workers (2019). “Most notable among these negative mental health consequences is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The hallmark of…

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