By Tina Wyatt // Mental Health // EEW Magazine Online

If you feel skeptical about therapy and mental health treatment, especially if you are a Black woman who grew up in the church, actor and cookbook author, Tia Mowry, can relate.

Best known for her role in the ‘90s sitcom, Sister, Sister, the 43-year-old recently told Yahoo that because of her Christian upbringing, she wasn’t too keen on seeking mental health help outside of the church.

After all, therapy was not encouraged or practiced.

(From Left to Right-Husband Corey Hardrict, daughter Cairo, Tia Mowry, son Cree) [Credit: Instagram/Tia Mowry Instagram]

But the star of Netflix’s Family Reunion has had a change of heart about mental health treatment and has fully embraced therapy thanks to a friend’s suggestion. “A few years ago, I was neglecting my mental health and a good friend of mine told me I needed therapy,” she said.

Even though Mowry, host of her own YouTube series Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix, did not immediately warm to the idea, her friend “was persistent.” Now she gives him “a lot of credit for his advice” and guidance toward mental health maintenance.

The wife and mother of two, who has launched a new cookware collection, Spice by Tia Mowry, has a lot to balance which makes prioritizing her mental health even more important. But getting assistance with juggling everything on her full plate was not the main catalyst for seeking therapy.

For Mowry, grief and loss were the real driving forces.

“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,” she explained.

Tia Mowry hugging her late Grandma Clo (Credit: Instagram/TiaMowry)

In 2018, Mowry’s 18-year-old niece, Alaina Housley, was one of the 12 victims of a mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. The following year, Mowry said goodbye to her grandmother, Clo, who lost her battle with cancer.

“I’ve been in talk therapy for three years,” she said. “I’ve become extremely intentional when it comes to my mental health.”

These days, the famous twin is not just focusing on her own mental and emotional well-being but is using her platform to encourage others to do the same.

“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, wasn't something we were mindful of,” she said.

But, by speaking out and revealing her own self-care strategies, she is reducing the stigma and educating more Black women about how therapy as well as diet and exercise can benefit their mental health.

“I’ve noticed that exercise is so incredibly important, but it’s the hardest thing to do when you're not feeling well or when you just want to stay in bed,” she said. Despite the difficulty, Mowry pushes herself to get moving and cut down on alcohol as a way of improving her mood.

“Many times, if you have a glass of wine or two, you feel good at that moment,” Mowry said. “But unfortunately, it can be a depressant, and if you’re not in the best mood, drinking is counterproductive. I really limit my alcohol intake and try to be mindful about my sleep and what I’m eating.”

Mindfulness and intentionality are helpful for Mowry, but nothing alleviates all the stresses we each face in life.

“Being misunderstood stresses me out,” Mowry confessed. “A goal of mine is to live through my authenticity, and I get stressed through other people's lives. I empathize with them. When people can't live their truth and be allowed to be themselves, or when I see prejudice or injustices or inequality, it stresses me out,” she said.

Stress, which we all experience to varying degrees daily, can be alleviated if we cater more to our mental health—something Mowry stresses through discussions like this.

“Some people don't know how to approach these conversations,” she said, but “I can use my platform to have this conversation. It’s about inspiring and being purposeful.”