Tia Mowry opened up about the importance of attending therapy during her recent interview with The Unwind.
The 43-year-old explained in the Yahoo Life’s series that although she advocates for the betterment of other people– whether through her inspirational posts on social media or tips from her cooking show and book– she felt reluctant to seek assistance for her struggles.
Mowry told the publication on Feb. 24, “It’s about deserving peace and happiness. I chose myself, my peace of mind. I’m very proud of myself because a few years ago, I was neglecting my mental health, and a good friend of mine told me I needed therapy.”
She added, “One of my friends told me the importance of therapy for about four or five years. I [made excuses not to go], but he was persistent. I give him a lot of credit for his advice — and for allowing me to see the importance and guiding me in the direction [of therapy].”
The “Sister, Sister” star also disclosed another reason that prompted her to seek professional help: the loss of two family members within a short time.
“I realized after the passing of two family members — one was old and one was young — how short life really is. I needed to find my peace and my true happiness and focus on my mental health and start therapy.”I’ve been in talk therapy for three years [now]. I’ve become extremely intentional when it comes to my mental health.[The past few years] were a wake-up call.”
Mowry wrapped up her sentiments by stating how black women need to start investing in themselves mentally despite the stigma surrounding mental health and therapy in the Black community.
She said, “Life is short, and you need to make sure you are well, mentally. As a Black woman, in our culture, therapy isn’t something we grew up doing, and [mental health] wasn’t something we were mindful of.”
In addition to therapy, Mowry also credits limiting her alcohol intake, diet, exercise, and following positive social media pages for helping her stay well mentally.
