Anxiety Therapy Attachment in Media: Inside Out

Anxiety Therapy

You are sitting in the theater and you watch Riley’s friends telling her that they are going to a different high school than hers. You hear the emotions in Riley's head going back and forth around not knowing how to react, and then Joy pushing those feelings to the back of Riley’s head. 

You think to yourself, that it feels familiar. 

The fear of being alone. 

The feeling of being hurt and worried. 

Attachment in Media: Inside Out

Situations show up in our life that we do not have control over. Ones we do not think to prepare ourselves for. Ideal experiences that do not go as planned, expected, and suddenly change. No one teaches you how to handle unexpected events and the unknown. And it feels scary. That is when our defense mechanisms show up in trying to find ways to provide protection, reignite a feeling of safety, and that everything is going to be okay. 

For Riley, it is this unexpected event of her friends not going to the same highschool, her ideal highschool experience being ripped away. We observe the fear, which later is replaced by anxiety taking control of her behaviors. Very much in how we went over in “Attachment Theory and our brain,” our brain does not like it when we are hurt and engages in trying to figure out ways to protect us. Anxiety, in this movie, does that very thing, trying to protect Riley. 

We observe her feeling less safe and trusting around her relationship with her middle school friends, and she creates distance from them. We also observe her engage in behaviors (i.e. painting her hair, lying about a band she liked) to establish a connection with the High School hockey team out of fear of rejection. Both different ways to cope with this feeling of fear and their worried thoughts. Her goal was doing everything possible to be liked by team members and be a part of the team. Anxiety in the movie noted, if she made the team and is well liked, she will not have to worry about being alone in high school.  

Towards the end of the movie we see the impact of these fear driven behaviors and how suppressed emotions were taking a toll on her. It arose from not dealing with emotions when her friends told her they were not going to the same school as her. Similar to when we feel that our foundation is not stable. In Riley’s case it was her foundation of a secure friendship.

Can you recall a time when you have chosen to ignore that feeling in the past, and that perhaps there is a correlation around trust towards others? 

How many times have you gone back and forth in your head on what to do when you feel someone has hurt you or is getting too close? 

Ligia Orellana BIPOC & LGBTQ Affirming Therapist in Los Angeles, CA Specializing in Anxiety and Toxic Relationships.

“Inside Out,” is praised by many clinicians because of the topics it touches on. For this movie to encompass so many different topics connected to Anxiety, it helps viewers feel seen and validated in experiences they may or may have not shared with others. It aids gaining understanding the connections between childhood experiences, attachment wounds, and our adult experiences with others. The inner battle we have in our heads is difficult to decipher why it happens on our own. If you are having trouble understanding this inner battle and attachment wounds. You can read more about how I can help here and schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation here.

I wish you good vibes in your healing journey!

Ligia Orellana, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist