Why I Love “Inside Out 2” as a Therapist

Disclaimer: this blog has spoilers for Inside Out 2. Come back and read after you have watched the movie! 

Recently I went to the movies to watch Inside Out 2. As you may know, Inside Out and Inside Out 2 follow a little girl named Riley, mainly through the perspective of her emotions. Since the movie follows her emotions and how they interact with one another and in different situations in her life, it is a great movie to use as a reference in therapy sessions!

In Inside Out 2, we get her emotions from the first movie once again (Anger, Disgust, Fear, Joy, and Sadness) but we also get new emotions (Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy), as Riley is now older and becoming a teenager. Towards the beginning of the movie, Joy goes to Riley’s Sense of Self river and adds memories that allow her sense of self to grow which becomes important later. The movie shows how the new emotions play a part in Riley’s life as she is growing up. Quickly, Anxiety takes over the console in Riley’s head, much like Joy did in the first movie. At this point, she and the other new emotions decided the original emotions were no longer needed and they became “suppressed emotions.” 

While all of this is happening, Riley is trying to navigate being in a hockey camp for her new school. Riley’s suppressed emotions are trying to find a way to get back to Headquarters, all while Anxiety gets rid of Riley’s previous sense of self and begins building her a new one – full of anxious memories. Suddenly, it is the final day of the camp and Riley needs to do well during a game to impress the coach, however she internally keeps telling herself “I am not good enough.” 

During the game, Riley begins to become overstimulated and ends up having an anxiety attack. The anxiety attack is depicted really well in the movie, showing Riley having trouble breathing, shaking her leg rapidly, her heart is racing, she is clutching her chest, and she begins sweating, all symptoms of an anxiety attack. The movie also shows how Anxiety is even no longer in control during the anxiety attack and it becomes a tiny tornado in her mind. All the emotions work together to take off Riley’s new negative Sense of Self. Joy, as well as Anxiety, realize Riley needs a little bit from each emotion to create an overall good Sense of Self. The movie shows that we need all emotions to help us navigate through different situations in life.

Watching the anxiety attack scene as a therapist, I could not help but enjoy the way they showed it - how it affects Riley and how the emotions internally were trying to combat it as well. When someone is in an anxiety attack, it may be difficult for them to find a way to get out of it. In the movie, Riley had the support from her friends and she began taking deep breaths, once she could, as well. 

Some of my favorite techniques to help with anxiety are: 

• Deeping Breathing including the 4-7-8 Breathing technique which involves breathing in for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling slow for 8 seconds

• Grounding Techniques including visualizing a safe space or focusing on what is going on around in that moment

• Mindfulness Techniques including the 5-4-3-2-1 method which involves naming 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste

If these tips and tricks don’t work for you, don’t worry, there are so many other coping strategies that can work!

I really enjoyed Inside Out 2 and how it is a children’s movie but also talks about real life situations. Growing up is never easy and finding things that can help you along the way can be extremely beneficial to you. Riley had some wonderful emotions to help her find her true self, as well as some amazing friends that stuck by her through it all. I leave you with this, what are some of the things or people that have helped you through the changes you have had in life?

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If you are a child, teen or young adult looking for therapy for anxiety or any other issues in Rancho Cucamonga or virtually throughout California, Jessica is accepting new clients. Contact us here.