What “Inside Out 2” Teaches Us About Anxiety and Mental Health
In 2015, Pixar’s Inside Out charmed audiences worldwide with its imaginative exploration of emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The film personified emotions such as Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, creating a dynamic and heartfelt narrative. The recently released and much anticipated Inside Out 2 takes this concept further, introducing new emotions (i.e., Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui) as Riley enters puberty. While many of the new emotions play background roles, Anxiety quickly takes charge and dominates in Riley’s mind.
Anxiety is a prevalent mental health issue that affects millions globally. Rates of anxiety increase as kids enter the teen years so it is quite appropriate that Pixar features Anxiety in this movie. Pixar addresses this often-misunderstood condition with empathy and insight, offering valuable lessons for viewers of all ages. Here’s what the movie teaches us about anxiety and mental health:
1. Understanding Anxiety
We first are introduced to Anxiety when a Muppet-like creature shows up in Riley mind, suitcases in hand (aka emotional baggage), and says “Oh my gosh! I’m Anxiety. Where can I put my stuff?” Anxiety is portrayed as a cautious, protective figure, constantly alerting Riley to potential dangers. Anxiety says, “Fear protects her from the scary stuff she can see. My job is to protect her from the scary stuff she can’t see.”
Why can’t we see the scary stuff? Because it doesn’t exist, at least not in the present moment. Anxiety is entirely future-focused. It worries about things that haven’t happened yet, and might not even happen at all. We see this in the scene when Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger enter Fort Pillowton, which has been repurposed by Anxiety to imagine all of the worst-case scenarios that Riley might encounter. Anxiety is focused on all of the “what ifs?” in our lives. It is constantly searching for potential danger and creating safety plans. This ultimately steals away our ability to enjoy the present moment (or enjoy a good night’s sleep).
2. Anxiety is NOT the bad guy
Anxiety is not the traditional villain one sees in most Disney movies. I would argue that Anxiety isn’t a villain at all. Remember, Anxiety’s goal is to protect Riley from harm, whether it be real or imagined. When Anxiety says “I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect her,” we see that Anxiety truly thought she was acting in Riley’s best interest. The problem is that Anxiety got carries away. Anxiety, in moderation, serves a very helpful purpose. It can help motivate us to prepare for a future challenge, such as a studying for a test. It can heighten our alertness of danger when walking alone at night. It can even speed up our movements/reflexes, which can give an athlete a competitive edge in a competition. Because anxiety can be helpful at times, it should never be our goal to get rid of entirely. Anxiety, in moderation, is a normal and even necessary part of the human experience.
3. Moderation is key
When anxiety gets too big, it can become unhelpful and sometimes even harmful. We see this at the end of the movie when Riley has a panic attack. Any imbalance, where one emotion dominates, can lead to distress. Excessive anxiety can overshadow other emotions. In Inside Out 2, Anxiety literally “bottles up” the original emotions and “suppresses” them. When left unchecked, too much anxiety leads to overwhelming feelings and mental health struggles. In the movie, we see Anxiety send Riley into a spiral, changes her core belief of “I’m a good person” to a new core belief that she is “not good enough.”
4. All emotions have value
Inside Out 2 emphasizes the importance of balance among all emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Embarrassment, Boredom, and Anxiety each have a role to play. Anxiety’s presence highlights the need for caution and preparedness. However, sometimes Anxiety goes overboard and needs to be sent to the Special Chair to calm down. Inside Out 2 encourages viewers to recognize and validate all their emotions, fostering a healthier emotional balance.
5. We can’t always be happy
Both Inside Out movies teach us that we can’t selectively numb emotions. In the first Inside Out movie, Joy is obsessed with keeping Riley happy at all times. She resents Sadness’ influence and even tries to keep Sadness confined in a Circle of Sadness. Later on in the movie, Joy tries to suppress Bing Bong’s sadness that Riley is moving on without him. Her attempts to make Bing Bong happy only make it worse. It isn’t until Sadness is able to step in and empathize with Bing Bong’s sadness that he is able to process his grief and move on. Joy is amazed that Sadness was able to help when she could not. You would think that this lesson would carry over into the second move but this is sadly not the case. In Inside Out 2, Joy is at it again. She tries to selectively shape Riley’s sense of self by only allowing the good memories to remain and keeping the “bad” memories at bay. Hijinks ensue and Joy has a heartbreaking moment when she finally abandons her denial that “everything is fine” exclaims in frustration “Do you know how hard it is to stay positive all of the time?!”
6. The power of self-compassion
A pivotal moment in Inside Out 2 occurs when Riley learns to show herself compassion. In the film, Riley learns to accept her anxious feelings with compassion rather than frustration. This acceptance allows her to manage her anxiety more effectively, fostering a healthier relationship with herself. Inside Out 2 teaches viewers that being kind and understanding towards oneself, especially in times of emotional distress, is crucial for mental well-being. The film teaches viewers that self-compassion—being kind to oneself during moments of anxiety—is crucial for mental well-being. We can foster self-compassion in many ways, including guided audios, daily affirmations, and guided readings and workbooks.
In Summary…
Inside Out 2 offers a profound exploration of anxiety, presenting it in a relatable and empathetic manner. By personifying Anxiety and showing its interactions with other emotions, the film provides valuable insights into the nature of anxiety and how to manage it. The movie’s messages about anxiety’s purpose, emotional balance, and self-compassion are lessons that resonate with viewers of all ages. In doing so, Inside Out 2 not only entertains but also educates and inspires, making it a significant contribution to the conversation about mental health. It reminds us that, while anxiety is a part of life, it is also something we can learn to manage and live with, growing stronger and more resilient in the process.