BREAKING NEWS: 6 Shows and Movies That Help Kids Cope with Anxiety – Why Validation Matters.giang

‘Inside Out 2’

One of the most memorable recent examples is Inside Out 2, when the constellation of emotions in Riley’s head is invaded by a new emotion: Anxiety. The portrayal of Anxiety as a swirling hurricane of intrusive thoughts, self-doubt and misplaced intentions prompted a swift wave of approving reactions across the internet.

People felt seen and validated, grateful for an accurate depiction of what it feels like to struggle internally against your own worried, overthinking self. The scene in which Riley suffers a panic attack, and the switch in perspective between her external and internal terror, was particularly powerful in showing what it feels like to be a kid experiencing anxiety for the first time.

‘Turning Red’

Incorporating a diverse cast and cross-cultural references, Turning Red addressed multiple topics that have long been considered taboo in children’s media: in addition to anxiety and mental health, it takes on puberty and menstruation. In Turning Red, Mei’s moments of heightened emotion are represented by her transforming into a giant red panda, a trait she eventually learns is shared by all the women in her family.

This memorable metaphor conveyed the difficulty in managing inherited anxiety, the pitfalls of parents trying to control a preteen’s feelings and the importance of strong friendship in counteracting bouts of panic.

‘Frozen’

The pop culture juggernaut Frozen did more than just inspire a legion of young girls to become ice queens — it also created a potent message about weathering the storms within. Similar to Mei’s, Elsa’s uncontrolled anxiety manifests as a danger. Her response of trying to isolate and seal herself off only worsens the situation.

The messaging was more subtle, and though it might not have been explicitly understood by its youngest fans, it continued to move the needle in openly portraying young characters forced to confront overwhelming feelings of angst and dread.

‘Finding Nemo’

Years before Frozen, the concept of uncontrollable worry showed up in the most unlikely of places: in the life of a single-father clownfish. Marlin is neither young nor even human, but he does struggle with intense bouts of distress in Finding Nemo. While its youthful audiences likely couldn’t relate to a parent’s consuming concern over the safety of their child, the underlying idea — that excessive fear and control only worsens anxiety — is a universal idea that is applicable to any age.

‘Winnie the Pooh’

 As early as 1926, Winnie the Pooh was filled with a colorful cast of characters, each with traits that embody a different emotional outlook: pessimistic Eeyore; impulsive Tigger; optimistic Pooh and anxious Piglet. This tight-knit group of animal friends go on fun adventures and yet still experience deep emotions throughout. They were an important way to show children, at the most basic level, that it’s okay to feel any number of ways.

‘Ted Lasso’

Though anxiety has historically been more commonly incorporated in movies and shows directed at adults (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Girl, Interrupted; Adaptation; Black Swan; This is Us), it has recently appeared in increasingly nuanced ways, such as in Ted Lasso. Known more for its comedic fish-out-of-water take on an American football coach suddenly coaching English football, it also successfully couches a subtle but powerful portrayal of anxiety amid the quips and jokes.

Alongside Ted’s accidentally-on-purpose charming and goofy persona, he also struggles against severe panic attacks. Yet that dichotomy — between his breezy, happy-go-lucky self and the tsunamis of panic that threaten to overwhelm and sabotage his life — is exactly what many people experience when contending with anxiety: living with an ever-present threat that lurks below the surface.

‘Eighth Grade’

There’s also been groundbreaking portrayals of similar experiences involving teens and young adults, from The Perks of Being a Wallflower to Euphoria. A recent rendering that was especially realistic and raw was in Eighth Grade, in which the main character navigates awkward middle school experiences while internally striving to manage her apprehension and unease.