What We Can Learn from Thunderbolts* the Movie About Mental Health
(No spoilers for major plot twists, but several quotes are included.)
Superhero suits, explosions, fights … and mental health?
We show up for superhero movies expecting high-stakes action, sharp humor, and larger-than-life characters. Thunderbolts* delivers all of that—and something more. Alongside the action was something resonant, tender, and achingly human: a raw look at pain, regret, longing, connection, and the imperfect road toward healing.
This post is not about who punched what or whom or what plot twist is the most revealing or exciting. Rather, it’s about what we can learn—about ourselves and each other—from the deeply relatable emotional journeys of the characters in Thunderbolts*.
Thank you, Aditya Vyas on Unsplash
1. You can’t do it alone
"We can't stop him alone. No one can. But we can find a way together." — Yelena
Mental health thrives in community! Whether it’s friends, chosen family, valued mentors, or trusted professionals, healing is rarely a solo act. We all need safe, supportive relationships to weather life’s storms—especially during life transitions or emotionally complex seasons.
Therapy offers a structured version of this connection—one where you're heard, witnessed, and supported in unraveling what feels heavy.
2. Your pain does not define you
“When I look at you, I don’t see your mistakes.” — Red Guardian
“The past doesn't go away. So you can either live with it forever or do something about it.” — Bucky
Shame and regret are regular companions, especially when navigating difficult relationships or old wounds. But your past does not erase your worth.
You are not just your mistakes or your story up to this point. You are also your growth, your intentions, and your next right step.
Therapy can help you explore how the past shapes your present without letting it define your future.
3. Life is messy, and that’s okay
“This could get messy.” — Yelena
“This is why we're The Avengerz with a Z.” — Yelena
Emotions are messy. Grief is messy. Relationships are messy. And still—we move forward.
For those who feel over-responsible—like you always have to hold it together or manage everyone else’s emotions—accepting the mess can feel radical. But being with and slowing down in the mess is often when clarity shows up. And that’s where connection deepens and creativity begins.
And sometimes, part of navigating the mess is learning not to take ourselves so seriously. Pain is real. And so is humor—even in hard moments. Letting yourself be imperfect, quirky, or even a little weird (“with a Z”) can be part of healing too.
4. You’re allowed to feel everything
"I'm fine." — (said by many throughout)
"You can’t stuff it down. You can’t hold it in all alone. No one can.” — Yelena
"You can’t outrun the emptiness.” — The Void
Often when we say, '“I’m fine,” we feel not so much what we just said. Holding everything in may seem like a strength, but the honest and bald truth is that stuffing it down or holding it in is often a barrier to healing and acceptance of self. Avoidance—through work, substances, even people-pleasing or distractions—can numb the pain for a short while and maybe get you through that moment, but it doesn’t resolve it.
In therapy, you get to explore your feelings safely, at your own pace, without being judged or rushed.
5. Compassion and connection matter
“I'm sorry.” — Yelena
“I’m here.” — Yelena
“We stick together from now on.” — Yelena
“Protecting you from boring evening. — Alexei’s taxi tagline
What if, in our dark moments, we let compassion cut through like light? A seemingly simple (yet so meaningful) and genuine “I’m sorry,” the safe touch of a hand on the shoulder, or an inside joke that softens the heaviness—connection reminds us we are not alone. We will always need more compassion and connection—never less.
Mental health care is about more than introspection. It’s also about rediscovering what it means to be with others in safe, sustaining ways.
6. You can be the one who shows up
“Maybe we can be the ones that are coming.” — Bucky Barnes
You don’t have to be perfect to show up for yourself or for others. You just have to be willing. Whether you're the person feeling lost or the one reaching out a hand, your presence matters.
Healing isn’t about erasing pain—it’s about building something meaningful alongside it.
Therapy might be a tool that helps remind you of ways you can show up for yourself—because we’re all capable of forgetting this sometimes, especially when things feel the hardest.
Want support in navigating your own next chapter?
Whether you relate to characters trying to outrun their past or those learning to trust again, know this: your story matters, and you don’t have to go it alone.
I work with individuals—especially those who feel overburdened, overlooked, stuck in relationship struggles, or are working through life transitions—to create change from the inside out. Together, we’ll explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to find your way forward with intention, self-compassion, and clarity.
Schreier, J. (Director), & Marvel Studios (Producer). (2025). Thunderbolts* [Film]. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
empty movie theater screen and seats before a movie
Fun facts
1. I always watch the movie’s credits.
2. I always applaud at the end of a movie. (I’d be delighted if everyone applauding at the end of movies became a thing again!)
3. If you saw the name Eric Lange in the cast credits – yes, he and I are related. Our grandfathers are brothers—which makes us second cousins.
