Marsai Martin on Depression, Turning 18 and How 'Kids Can Do Anything'

(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Marsai Martin is young powerhouse taking over Hollywood. The black-ish star was named the youngest executive producer in Hollywood at 16 and has acted on a hit TV show and starred in the same movie that she produced. Plus, she is also now the youngest person to ever sign a first-look deal with Universal Studios.

The beauty’s 18th recent birthday brought out some of our favorite celebrities including Kelly Rowland and Karrueche Tran who showed up in their best and turned up with the teen for her big day. Styled by Bryon Javar, the actress looked beautiful as she arrived at her birthday event. Javar shared the look on his IG Page, posting a Reel of the beauty modeling the ensemble to perfection.

“#TheRulesAreSimple this is 18 🎂 @marsaimartin #StyledByJavar

But even with all that success, the young starlet shared how she used to suffer in silence with her mental health. It was a lesson that even at a young age that, your own mental health comes first.

She recently explained in an Instagram post that she once felt herself struggling with self-doubt, imposter syndrome and falling into some "dark emotions" that she could not control.

"This year has been a roller coaster," writes Martin on her Instagram. "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."

(Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Shorty Awards)

"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..."

After revealing these internal demons that many people, regardless of age, experience, the young star explained that she found solace in God, her family and her loved ones. She credits them for helping her transition into feeling "the best I've ever felt in a long time."

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 Jun 25, 2019 at 12:07pm PDT

"Thank you God, for hearing my prayers," she continued. "Thank you God for blessing me with the greatest family and friends."

In concluding her brave post, she sent a message to her followers: "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."