The story I’m working on is deeply personal, as it is based on my own experiences. When I transferred from China to the U.S. and started middle school, I was overwhelmed by the sudden and drastic change in my environment. The cultural shift, the language barrier, and being surrounded by unfamiliar people and places left me feeling isolated and uncertain. It was during this time that I began to experience anxiety. The unfamiliarity of it all made everything feel much bigger and harder to navigate. My parents and friends, who were either far away or unfamiliar with the experience, couldn’t truly understand what I was going through. They didn’t know what it felt like to be in a new place where everything was different, or what anxiety really felt like. Mental health was not something that society openly discussed back then, and it was difficult for me to express the complex emotions I was experiencing. I couldn’t find the right words to explain how overwhelming it felt, so I kept it to myself.

In my film, I try to capture the essence of what I felt during the onset of my anxiety. The sensory overload was one of the most striking aspects. The sounds around me—voices, noises, even the hum of the city—started to feel magnified, like they were getting louder and more chaotic. The lights around me seemed too bright, almost blinding, intensifying the feelings of disorientation and panic. Everything felt distorted, like the world itself was shifting and I couldn’t find a place to ground myself. It was as though I was trapped in a world where nothing felt normal, and the more I tried to control it, the more out of control everything seemed to become. It was a constant, unrelenting pressure that I couldn’t escape.

However, despite how overwhelming it was, I slowly began to find ways to manage my anxiety. One of the biggest turning points came from the support of my parents and friends. They were there for me, even when I didn’t have the words to explain what I was feeling. Their presence and understanding were incredibly important in helping me realize that I wasn’t alone in this. Over time, with their encouragement and care, I found healthier ways to cope with the stress. I began to focus on exercise as an outlet for my anxiety, which was a significant shift from the unhealthy coping mechanisms I turned to as a teenager, like smoking or drinking. Exercise allowed me to release tension in a positive way, and it became an essential tool in managing my mental health.

Now, looking back, I realize how much I’ve grown. While I still experience moments of anxiety, they no longer have the same intensity or control over my life. I’ve learned to manage my emotions in healthier ways, and I feel much more grounded in who I am. Through this film, I hope to share my journey with others and show that while anxiety can be overwhelming, it is possible to overcome it with the right support, self-care, and coping strategies. I want to help others understand that mental health is not something to be ashamed of, but something that deserves attention and care, just like physical health.

This project is my way of expressing not just my own struggles but also my resilience and the healing process. I want to show that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always hope and a path forward.