Teenage years are often portrayed as the best time of life. However, they come with their own set of challenges, with more complex emotions developing. We love how “Inside Out 2” dives deep into the complexities of teenage years. The film vividly captures the essence of teenage struggles, making it such a relatable film for many. Let’s break down some of our favourite scenes revolving around one of our new emotions in this film – Anxiety!
Desire to fit in
On her first high school day, Anxiety intensifies each glance from peers and whisper into threats or judgments of Riley. At the hockey training camp, Anxiety takes control when Riley meets Valentina, a popular hockey player she looks up to. Here, Anxiety presents scenes where Riley disappoints Valentina, imagines eating lunch alone, and fears becoming someone only known by her teachers. These illustrate the common teenage struggle with social acceptance and the anxiety to meet both their own and others’ expectations. Although the desire to fit in is universal, most of us can admit that we really wanted to fit in with the “cool kids” during our teenage years!
As teens navigate critical life transitions, such as starting high school or engaging in new social environments, they often face heightened levels of anxiety. This can distort their perception of social interactions. For example, casual glances and whispers from peers may be interpreted as negative judgments or threats. This is a common manifestation of social anxiety disorder. If the excessive worries cannot seem to subside and persist even in safe environments, one should consider speaking to a professional about it.
Wanting to perform well
Anxiety is vividly depicted through Riley’s desire to excel in sports. This is especially clear during the high-stakes hockey game, where she experienced physical symptoms like sweating and a rapid heartbeat. As Riley fears disappointing her team and herself, Anxiety takes control, overwhelming her with nervousness and doubt. Performance anxiety can grip teens, particularly when they face high expectations in academics, sports, or other activities.
Fun fact! Anxiety attack is not an actual medical term. When people use the term, they tend to be referring to a panic attack or intense symptoms of anxiety.
How much anxiety is too much?
As portrayed in Inside Out 2, even though anxiety may appear like the “villain”, we should not view anxiety as a negative emotion. A healthy amount of anxiety is actually beneficial for us. During the training camp, Anxiety tried to help Riley perform better to get selected for the hockey team. Anxiety is often an uncomfortable feeling, but the right amount can push us to improve and evaluate situations to make better informed decisions.
However, the benefits can be reversed if you are experiencing too much anxiety . Instead of feeling motivated to perform, you might feel too anxious and frozen to carry out your tasks. A good way to tell if you have too much anxiety is to ask yourself, “Is this affecting my ability to function properly?”. If you find that anxiety is making you unable to concentrate, sleep well, or perform your tasks, then perhaps it is time to seek help. For parents of teen children, pay attention to these signs as well and encourage them to speak to a professional if needed.
If your feelings of anxiety are bothering you, no matter how small it may seem, it is always a valid enough reason to seek help. A mental health professional can guide you in managing your anxiety better and living your best life. A Kind Place provides online and in-person counselling sessions for anxiety. Contact us via Whatsapp or email us at hello@akindplace.co to learn more.
