Inside Out 2 doesn’t just expand Riley’s emotional world — it also offers a meaningful insight into anxiety, one of the most common emotions we deal with in everyday life. While the first movie introduced the five core emotions — Joy, Anger, Sadness, Fear, and Disgust — the sequel adds more complex ones: Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy.
Among these, anxiety appears most frequently in real life: before exams, when entering a new environment, speaking in public, or feeling unsure about our self-worth. The film raises an important question:
Have we been misunderstanding anxiety all this time?
How Anxiety Forms: The Difference Between Anxiety and Fear
Anxiety vs. Fear – Similar, but Not the Same
Anxiety is a complex emotion – a mix of tension, restlessness, worry, and negative anticipation. In Inside Out 2, Anxiety and Fear look quite similar: both imagine worst-case scenarios and trigger physical reactions like a racing heart, trembling, shortness of breath, or the urge to avoid.
But one key difference separates them:
Fear focuses on a visible, identifiable threat.
Anxiety focuses on an unseen, unpredictable threat.
Examples:
You fear dogs because you were bitten → clear target.
You worry something bad might happen → but don’t know what → that’s anxiety.
Psychologist Rollo May once said:
“Anxiety arises when a core value in life is threatened.”
In other words, anxiety originates from our internal beliefs and values, not solely from external triggers.
When Anxiety Becomes Pressure: “I’m Still Not Good Enough”
In the movie, Riley believes she is competent. But under Anxiety’s influence, conditional beliefs start forming:
“If I make the team, I’ll have friends.”
“If I play well, people will like me.”
“If I become even better, I’ll finally be worthy.”
These thoughts gradually create a negative core belief:
“I’m not good enough.”
As this belief grows stronger, anxiety intensifies → focus drops → social fear increases → confidence fades. We fall into a destructive loop where anxiety controls how we see ourselves.
In the film’s climax, Anxiety even becomes frozen – similar to how real people may experience panic, numbness, or emotional shutdown when anxiety becomes overwhelming.
Anxiety Isn’t Only Negative – It’s the Brain’s “Risk-Rehearsal System”
Why Anxiety Still Exists After Thousands of Years of Evolution
If anxiety feels so uncomfortable, why hasn’t humanity evolved to eliminate it?
Because anxiety actually serves a survival function:
It predicts potential risks
It motivates preparation
It encourages caution
It helps us stay alert and ready
Throughout the film, Joy is energetic but directionless, while Anxiety always has a plan. This difference reflects how anxiety keeps us prepared.
The Yerkes-Dodson Curve
Psychology describes anxiety’s performance benefits through the Yerkes-Dodson Law:
Too little anxiety → low motivation
Too much anxiety → overwhelm or shutdown
Moderate anxiety → optimal performance
This explains why athletes, students, and performers often do best with just the right amount of pressure.
Why Avoiding Anxiety Makes It Worse
Avoiding anxiety by refusing social situations, avoiding new experiences, or “over-preparing” – may feel safe temporarily, but it strengthens anxiety long-term.
Research shows that when we avoid an anxiety-triggering situation, the brain mistakenly learns:
→ “I stayed safe because I avoided it.”
Instead of learning:
→ “Actually, that situation wasn’t as dangerous as I thought.”
As a result, anxiety grows bigger, louder, and harder to control – just like Anxiety in the movie.
How to “Land Safely” When Anxiety Hits
During the movie’s climax, when Anxiety becomes overwhelmed, Joy helps her in two simple ways:
She names the emotion.
She lets it rest.
These actions reflect mindfulness principles:
bringing attention back to the body and the present moment.
A Simple Exercise: Mindful Walking
Try this when feeling anxious:
Look around: colors, shapes, movements
Notice smells around you
Listen to footsteps, wind, or your breath
Feel your feet touching the ground
No judgment – just presence
This practice gently pulls you out of overwhelming thoughts and helps the mind reset, making space for clearer decisions.
You Don’t Need to Eliminate Anxiety – Just Understand It
By the end of Inside Out 2, Anxiety no longer controls Riley alone. Once understood and acknowledged, it becomes lighter, more balanced, and more helpful.
Similarly, in our real lives:
You don’t need to remove anxiety.
You just need to understand it and walk alongside it.
Each time you face it, you become steadier and more grounded.
Eventually, you may realize:
Anxiety isn’t your enemy – it’s simply trying to protect you in its imperfect way.
