Movie Title: Anxiety Club

This documentary features comedians with anxiety, and debuts digitally on Jolt on Friday, 8/15.

LENGTH: 1 hour 23 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

A movie studio invited me to review this documentary and I’m so glad they did. I may never have discovered it on my own. ANXIETY CLUB features comedians who have openly shared their struggles on stage. Now, we get to hear more about their real-life struggles through interviews, therapy sessions, back-stage conversations, and everyday life moments.

If you have anxiety, you’ll be able to relate. Everyone feels it from time to time. If your own mental health is strong, watching this film just might provide you with some new insights into how some people live each day. We can all show more kindness and patience to others.

The director of this film, Wendy Lobel, revealed, “I’ve struggled with anxiety for years and am familiar with the uncomfortable symptoms that can accompany an anxiety disorder, as well as the available treatments and tools. But the seed for ANXIETY CLUB was planted in 2013 when I produced Worried Sick about teens with anxiety for Nickelodeon’s Nick News with Linda Ellerbee. I witnessed how the subjects’ worries and fears were not only mentally torturous but also tangibly holding them back in life. I also saw how the proper treatment helped in profound ways. Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder, surpassing depression, yet the majority of those suffering don’t get treated because of the stigma that persists. Left untreated, anxiety can manifest with severe consequences. I realized that there are countless anxious people out there of all ages who live compromised by their disorder because they don’t know any other way.”

Already, the film has been nominated for Best Film by the Global Health Competition.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity and F-bombs
Lots of talk of things that people are afraid of.
Talk of self-medication through drugs and alcohol

THEMES:

Anxiety and mental health
How your brain works
Therapy
Exposure technique
Support for those who struggle with anxiety and depression

THINGS I LIKED:

The topic of this documentary is timely. In 2025, an estimated 42.5 million U.S. adults are living with an anxiety disorder, making anxiety the most common mental health condition in the country. The percentage of U.S. adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression has increased sharply and dramatically in recent years. Just 8% of those aged 65 or older have anxiety, compared to 26% of those aged 18-29. Younger generations are really struggling and will be able to relate to the feelings and challenges that the comedians honestly share in this film.
The comedians featured are Tiffany Jenkins, Joe List, Marc Maron, Aparna Nancherla, Mark Normand, Baron Vaughn, and Eva Victor.
My mother worried about a lot of things that never happened. Worrying seemed like an obvious waste of time to me as a young girl; however, as a mother of 4 sons now, I absolutely understand it and have experienced!
One thing that’s great about comedians is that they are known for breaking down barriers and talking about what’s uncomfortable. We can all benefit from that.
I thought Tiffany Jenkins’ story was extremely touching. Her pain was real and raw. I had never seen her YouTube sketches before but now I want to subscribe. She’s hilarious. I was rooting for her throughout her entire mental health journey during the film.
I really enjoyed how honest the comedians were about which therapies and medications worked and didn’t work. The bottom line is that those with anxiety can have hope because there ARE solutions.
Viewers might wonder how authentic these comedians are and if they agreed to the interviews simply to get more media exposure to advance their careers, but I was impressed with their vulnerability and honesty about things they truly struggle with.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I can always do without the profanity, but I think a lot people who struggle with anxiety are going to really enjoy this and be inspired by the conversations and actions the comedians shared.

INTERESTING LINES:

“It seems like everybody in the world has anxiety and no one knows what the F to do about it.” – Tiffany Jenkins
“It’s a pattern that no longer serves you.” – Baron Vaughn
“I’m just scared being scared all the time.” – Opeyemi “Opey” Olagbaju