Meet Kiersten Trismen

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kiersten Trismen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kiersten below.

Kiersten, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Mental health issues have pretty much plagued me for most of my life. From the time I was a child, I never felt like I was “enough” – smart enough, pretty enough, successful enough, etc. Due to various factors in my personal life, school bullying, and my own insecurities I developed depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder all by the time I was in middle school. I was in high school the first time I went into therapy for my problems. I’d love to say that it was all smooth sailing from there, but that would be far from the truth. There have been relapses, years in and out of therapy, medications, and countless hours of self-care and self-help books to help me reach the point I am at today.

There is no easy fix for mental health issues. I know there will always be that little nagging voice in the back of my mind pointing out all my flaws and encouraging me to be self-destructive when I’m feeling bad. Despite that annoying voice, however, I keep pushing forward and refuse to give up.

Over the last few years, I’ve started my own small tea business and have had my first fiction story published. I am very excited and very passionate about both of those things, If I had continued to let my mental health struggles define me, I know that I would have never been able to make either of those things happen. As soon as I let that negative voice creep back into my head, I know it will interfere with all the positive things in my life. I sacrificed enough of my life to fear, self-doubt, and harsh self-criticism. I refuse to do that anymore.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I have a small tea company called The Rooted Dandelion. I started it “just for fun” three years ago, after discovering my passion for herbalism and the medicinal power of plants. I use my knowledge of plants and my culinary background to create fun tea blends that not only taste delicious, but are good for you. I come up with the recipes, hand blend and package everything, and even create my own labeling. It’s been a lot of hard work over the years, but it’s a true labor of love. I sell my products online and vend at local events/conventions. Getting to share the things I make with other people and teach them more about tea and herbs makes the whole thing worth it at the end of the day.

My other creative outlet is writing. I have been writing and coming up with stories for most of my life. This year I published my first short story. I have a couple of fantasy and romance novels in the works, also, that I hope to get published sometime next year.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three of the hardest, but most valuable skills I’ve learned (and am still honing) are: a. Patience, b. Persistence, c. Self-awareness.

By nature, I am not the most patient person, especially when it comes to myself. Learning to be more patient and give myself grace, especially when I am struggling, has been key to my recovery journey. I am not going to get it right on the first try. I might not get it right on the second or third try either, but THAT’S OKAY. I’ve learned that it takes time and doesn’t have to be perfect. The recovery journey is a messy one and it’s okay to take things one day and one step at a time.

Being persistent can be difficult, but the only other option is to give up. I’ve stumbled and fallen backwards plenty of times, but it doesn’t matter, because I’ve gotten up and dusted myself off every time. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. All that matters is that you keep going.

Whether you battle with mental health issues or not, I think it’s important for everyone to develop a sense of self-awareness. Know what kinds of things trigger you. Know what kinds of things help you stay motivated. Know what kinds of things you excel at and which ones you need to work on. Truly knowing and understanding yourself, even those parts that you don’t necessarily like, is a huge asset in life.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

I have undergone some huge changes in my personal life over the last 12 months. I’ve gone through a breakup, moved, changed careers, and have basically started my entire life over. I’ve had to let go of a lot of people and things that were really important to me. While it’s been difficult to lose so much, I have also gained a lot, as well. New people and experiences have shown up that have really helped me through the difficult times. I’ve set new goals for myself and am constantly working to improve myself and my mental health. Without saying “goodbye” to the old version of me, there would never have been room for this newer version. Even though it’s been really difficult, I am incredibly grateful for all that I’ve learned about myself during that time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://therooteddandelion.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therooteddandelion/