Biography

Road to Recovery is the musings of Gary Tidwell.

PROFESSIONAL

Professionally, I have worked in the mental health and social services for most of the last 15 years. I graduated in 1995 with a Bachelors Degree, with a Major in Human Development and Family Studies. In 1999, I graduated with a Masters Degree in Counseling.

I am currently employed at a Big Spring State Hospital, in Big Spring Texas, were part of my responsibilities includes teaching a psycho-educational class  by the same name as this blog. I fact, I have to admit, it was actually the inspiration for it.

In addition, I also teach Anger Management and Domestic Violence and Stress Management Classes through the local community college.

PERSONAL

Personally, I was a child of divorced parents at the age of 3. By the age of eight I had no relationship or contact with my birth mother. I grew up with a father that worked in the oilfield in the 70’s and 80’s. His work kept him away from home a lot. My step-mom how was the one primarily responsible for my raising, I found out as a adult, was hurt, angryand depressed with her own “issues.” Later just after my departure from the home, she required private psychiatric hospitalization due to suicide attempts. During my adolescents, I began developing co-dependent traits, and always seemed to pick the neediest and sickest of girls to be with so that I could “fix them”. Over time, I developed abandonment and rejection issues leading to depression, which revealed itself as anger and mild rebellion at home. This pattern of toxic and dysfunctional relationships continued up until I met my wife. I can not lie and say that the rejection issues and fears do not occasionally rear their ugly head, but it is much better than ever before.

I guess in a way, I chose the career that I have, because I am still a little co-dependent and want to help others get better.

Seeing as I have worked primarily in the Public/State funded sector, I guess, I have trained  myself to separate my faith from my much of my teaching and presentation. However, I honestly believe that there is no TRUE recovery without faith; and my faith is in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Son Jesus, the Christ.

I hope that now you will understand why Recovery and Hope are so precious and important to me. I hope that you will continue to visit and be encouraged and empowered as you continue along this long and at times difficult journey.