If you’ve seen Inside Out 2, you probably walked away feeling a mix of emotions - literally. But if you’re unfamiliar with the Inside Out movies, here’s a quick rundown: The films take us inside the mind of Riley, a young girl whose emotions - Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust - help her navigate life. The first movie explored how Riley processed a big move, while Inside Out 2 follows her as a teenager, dealing with new emotions—including a big one: Anxiety.
As a therapist, I couldn’t help but notice how accurately the film portrays the way anxiety can take over, especially during big life transitions. Let’s break down what Inside Out 2 gets right about anxiety, what we can learn from it, and how we can apply those lessons to our own lives.
The Arrival of Anxiety: Why It Feels So Overpowering
In the first Inside Out, Riley’s core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—worked together (sometimes messily) to help her navigate childhood. But in Inside Out 2, we see Anxiety arrive on the scene, bringing with her a need to plan, predict, and control the future. Sound familiar?
Anxiety’s role in the film is one many of us can relate to: she wants to keep Riley safe by preparing for everything that could go wrong. But instead of being a helpful guide, Anxiety quickly takes over, overwhelming Riley’s other emotions and making it hard for her to stay present.
This is so true to life. Anxiety often shows up when we’re entering unknown territory—like starting high school, a new job, or even becoming a parent. It tries to “help” by over-planning and overthinking, but when it becomes too dominant, it can leave us feeling stuck in a cycle of worry.
When Anxiety Becomes Too Loud
One of the most powerful moments in the film is when Anxiety starts running the show, drowning out Riley’s other emotions. This is a perfect representation of how anxiety can sometimes take control of our thoughts, making it hard to see things clearly.
Instead of letting Riley experience her emotions in a balanced way, Anxiety pushes Joy, Sadness, and the others aside, leading to stress, self-doubt, and a sense of pressure to be “good enough.” Many of us have experienced this - feeling like we need to be perfect, anticipate every problem, or avoid failure at all costs. But in reality, trying to control everything only creates more inner chaos.
What Inside Out 2 Teaches Us About Managing Anxiety
Anxiety has a purpose - but it shouldn’t take over:
One of the most powerful ways to reframe anxiety is to recognize that it isn’t actually bad - it exists to help us prepare for challenges. But when it dominates our thinking, it can make us feel overwhelmed, fearful, or paralyzed. The key is learning to recognize when anxiety is helping versus when it’s spiraling out of control.
All emotions deserve a voice:
One of the biggest takeaways from the film is that all emotions - joy, sadness, anger, and even anxiety—have an important role in our lives. Ignoring or pushing them away doesn’t make them disappear. Instead, acknowledging and balancing them is what allows us to grow.
It’s okay to not have everything figured out:
Riley’s anxiety stems from the pressure to fit in and succeed, which is something so many of us experience. But part of growing up (and even adulthood) is realizing that it’s okay to not have everything mapped out. Life is uncertain, and we don’t have to have all the answers right away.
Final Thoughts: Learning to Work With, Not Against, Anxiety
One of the most refreshing aspects of Inside Out 2 is that it doesn’t paint anxiety as a villain - it simply shows what happens when it gets too loud. The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety but to learn how to work with it so it doesn’t control our lives.
If you resonated with Riley’s experience, know that you’re not alone. Anxiety is a common (and very normal) part of being human. The key is finding ways to calm your mind, stay present, and remind yourself that you don’t have to have everything figured out. And if anxiety ever feels too overwhelming, talking to a therapist can help - just like Riley needed to reconnect with all of her emotions, sometimes we need support to do the same.
Inside Out 2 • Inside Out Movie • Anxiety • Therapist Thoughts • Self Compassion • Mindfulness