Protesting led to my burnout. That’s when I realized self-care could be my act of defiance [Video]

This First Person article is written by Golshan Abdmoulaie, who lives in Toronto. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ.

I settled into my seat at Toronto’s TIFF Lightbox theatre, a tub of popcorn in one hand and a strong IPA in the other. Surrounded by my Iranian filmmaker friends, I felt a sense of belonging and anticipation as we prepared to watch No Bears, the latest film from Jafar Panahi, about a couple attempting to flee Iran’s oppressive regime. Given the events unfolding in the country at that time, attending the screening felt like a natural thing to do.

Sometimes, all it takes is one moment — an image, a conversation, or a film — to unlock buried feelings. As the film unfolded, I could feel a shift in my body. No longer did I feel at ease or comfortable in the dark theatre. Tears rolled down my face; …