Marsai Martin recently opened up about surviving the hardest year of her young life. The 14-year-old is best known for her role as Diane Johnson on the ABC TV sitcom Black-ish.

Marsai has enjoyed more success at her age than most adult stars in Hollywood. She became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history with the movie Little and she was also the youngest person to sign a first-look deal with Universal Studios.

But success comes with a price – as Marsai is quickly learning.

In a somber post titled “Appreciation post to God” on Instagram on Tuesday, Marsai expressed her struggles with self-doubt and “dark emotions.”

“This year has been a rollercoaster,” she wrote.

“Moments from this year, I was in a dark place. A place that I didn’t think I was going to get out of. I thought I wasn’t good enough and I thought I needed to present myself in a way that was ‘perfect’ when I didn’t need to. Putting so much pressure on myself. Fighting with myself. The more I kept how I was feeling hidden, the more this dark emotion got bigger.”

The youngest said she prayed for guidance out of the dark place. But after talking to her parents, Joshua and Carol Martin, she found a sense of relief.

No photo

“Thank you God for hearing my prayers. Thank you God for blessing me with the greatest family and friends. I encourage everyone to speak their mind to anyone u trust. Even asking a random person “how are you?” Can mean something. Also, be yourself because no one can be like you, other than YOU. Okay I’m done bye”.

 

View this post on Instagram

Appreciation post to God: I sometimes see these types of posts as corny but this is how I feel lol. This year has been a roller coaster. This year has been filled with crazy emotions and big blessings that I couldn’t even imagine me having. Moments from this year, I was in a dark place. A place that I didn’t think I was going to get out of. I thought I wasn’t good enough and I thought I needed to present myself in a way that was “perfect” when I didn’t need to. Putting so much pressure on myself. Fighting with myself. This feeling had nothing to do with how child actors think. These were my own personal thoughts. The more I kept how I was feeling hidden, the more this dark emotion got bigger. I finally talked to my parents even tho they already knew how I was feeling. It made me feel better about myself. A sense of relief. I started praying more, talking more, and spending more time with the people I love. Now I’m feeling the best I’ve ever felt In a long time. Thank you God for hearing my prayers. Thank you God for blessing me with the greatest family and friends. I encourage everyone to speak their mind to anyone u trust. Even asking a random person “how are you?” Can mean something. Also, be yourself because no one can be like you, other than YOU. Okay I’m done bye?? – MM

A post shared by Marsai Martin (@marsaimartin) on

Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images