May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
One of the reasons why I love tea is because there is a tea for any mood. Whether you are looking for something to wake you up, put you to sleep, help digestive issues or want a warm flavorful tea that does a mix of things-there is a tea for that! Although I grew up drinking tea, in recent years tea has, admittedly, been my saving grace.
In 2014, I started a new job in a new state with no friends or family. My new job although life changing was very lonely and I fell into a depression. That depression lasted for a few years. During that time of depression, my anxiety levels were through the roof. I would smile and laugh at work, but as soon as I would get home I'd change into my sweats and lay down, aimlessly watching tv and buying takeout. There were no happy hours with friends. There were no Sunday Fundays. There were no Friday nights to dress up for. It was hard trying to express this to anyone because I was always known to be outgoing and the life of any party.
So what did I do until I finally had the courage to speak up? I drank tea. Lots of it. I had tea in the morning, in the middle of the day and tea before I went to sleep. I had tea in blistering cold weather and tea in scorching humid heat.
The only thing I had to look forward to during this time was my next cup of tea. It was also during this time that I had started drinking loose leaf tea-and let me tell you, Whoa!
I started working out more and feeling better about life, but as quick as I started to see the light, my grandmother passed away and I was back in a hole. A year after her passing is when I had the idea to create my own tea line. I had the idea not only because it could help alleviate certain health issues, but also because I know it saved me, mentally.
Studying about tea, working on my tea line and drinking tea in between time brought me so much joy! Alas, I had something to look forward to that I was passionate about. After moving back to a city and state where I had friends and family, I really got the ball rolling on Tea Please.
Now that Tea Please is here and I am able to share my passion with the world, I feel like a brand new woman mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
And for that, I thank tea!
If you are suffering from depression and/or anxiety please acknowledge your feelings and don't be ashamed to seek help.