Alex Under Pressure | Modern Family

An edit of Modern Family S05E12 where Alex struggles with her identity as an over-achiever.

[@FoggyPigeon]

I really wish they had carried on showing more of Alex in these sessions in later episodes. It was such a growth moment for her character and very relatable for so many people.

[@SammiPDanton]

Yeah I hated how this was a one off storyline and it was pretty much forgotten about. The show never really gave Alex her own long term storyline. I can’t remember a actually storyline of her that lasted more then a episode or two I kind of relate to her pressure. Well I’m was never great school wise like Alex, I did do gymnastics for 8 and half year and completed competitively even winning a few titles and was being look at for college scholarships There is a lot of pressure in gymnastics and to be the best and to train and be in “prefect shape” ( by prefect shape I mean drastically underweight) I have hyperthyroidism so it was rather easy for me to stay underweight. I just didn’t take my meds and ate very little. Which made my hyperthyroidism even worse resulting in me having a small heart attack which cause a severe seizure at 18. I have permanent nerve damage in my arm due to this. Even after all that I had to basically be forced to quit gymnastics. People don’t get how far the pressure to be the best can be. It can make you literally destroy yourself. It would have been nice to see that represent a little more.

[@anthonymorales842]

the Spanish inquisition great line @@SammiPDanton

[@leythonlopez-ty5dm]

Like to stop studying and have fun

[@osoascam]

I also hated how after this, Claire also forgot this and they all returned to the tired trope of bullying her like this episode never happened.

[@camiarau]

when she said "i feel kind of alone" i instantly started crying. it is a real overwhelming, lonely and even painful process to people who live through that type of pressure on a daily basis

[@shy_shut-in8151]

Same here no matter how time’s I rewatch this episode that scene always makes me cry 😢

[@eeveeongirl]

This episode is so important in so many ways. For the kids and teens watching it shows that it's ok to be like Alex but that if they need help or a person to talk to there are professionals they can go to and there is nothing wrong woth it. For parents it acknowledges that kids have it rougher than they maybe realize and they may just need to let their child speak with no judgment only listening ears. And above all, this episode was a big deal for the actress of Alex, she stated in an interview that this episode reflected her real life and how her family in the show had helped her get through her troubles with her biological family.

[@jaydutta9142]

Well said man

[@EM-rm2xh]

Professionals you can go to if you have money.

[@allshookup1640]

I didn’t see this until I was an adult. I don’t even watch the show and it made me cry. This is me to a T. Always self pressured. I have been working on it in therapy. I relate so well to Alex as a teen.

[@kyze8284]

This scene came on after I graduated and I screamed at the TV about how every teacher is so disconnected from the others even with the “mandatory teacher meetings” apparently they never told each other how much each was assigning. I had 7 classes a day. 7! Each assigned at LEAST a half hour, and some of the college credit courses assigned up to an hour and a half of homework. Half the kids had after school “extracurriculars” and there was 40 MANDATORY HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE BY GRADUATION! MANDATORY! COMMUNITY SERVICE! On top of being expected to have a part time highschool level job and the sports/after school school events These people were deranged thinking we could get 8-10 hours of sleep with 8 hours of school, 6-8 hours of homework, 1-2 hours of extracurricular, and 3-5 hours of paid job a day

[@billybob7135]

​@@kyze8284The worst part is that I had a few teachers who DID consider the possibility that you can't get enough sleep under those conditions. Their conclusion? You simply aren't good enough to handle the rigor of advanced courses, and that remedial classes are always an option. Don't want to quit? Then you will be left behind behind in higher level courses, you EARN your grade.

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

Alex rushing into Claire’s arms at the end was so freaking sweet. Made me tear up a little. I didn’t have those issues in high school, but once college and grad school came around, I definitely was suffering under tremendous pressures.

[@kioshiuniverse]

The fact that the intro of the show expose Alex who is the one carrying the frame include also another meaning that she litteraly carries her family

[@uncommonfaith977]

omd your right!

[@andrewghostronin38]

I didn’t even think of that

[@chrispinion]

She literally is the reason they’re not dead

[@Iraaaa0]

She is one of the most relatable characters on the show.. one of the best episodes.. they showed how much pressure she was under all this while instead of making fun of her or joking that she was going to be alone the rest of her life..

[@Moon-sr7zd]

I kinda feel alex' whole anxiety and meltdowns stem from her condition of being a middle child, who is nearly invisible. And the only way she can showcase herself is through academics since she saw her older sister being a wild child, she doesn’t want to take the problem child route. She is neither the only daughter, neither the only son nor the youngest, so her fear of being forgotten as a mediocre child she pushes herself to excel studies so she can be by herself if her family members forget that she exists

[@Shockwave99999]

A really insightful take

[@ashurahien9820]

This short scene is something that really makes me tear up a little every time. There is so many young people who had been trying to live up with the expectation to be perfect, whether it is family or society pressure... having her everyday acknowledged to be hard is really refreshing and heartwarming. Really a wonderful and meaningful scene for a lot of people who undergo through this :)

[@salomerodriguez5145]

This episode was so important to me and it makes me angry how they completely ignore this issue for the rest of the series to go on to make fun of Alex. No, seriously, this show feels like the writers utterly dislike Alex.

[@moneylover318]

Actually I think the show really hates the kids

[@mattia1026]

She's the nerd of the show. All American shows make fun of nerds, it's like an unwritten rule.

[@hoodbitch2764]

it’s the middle child trope. it’s supposed to be a joke but damn sometimes it hurts

[@TAobsessed]

For real this episode was the only one who said what Alex has really been through they just made her being always laughed at by Haley mostly and everything iconic that she did Haley had to destroy it.The writers just cared more about the popular girl and how pretty popular and sometimes successful. Claire didn’t care a lot about Alex more about Haley and only in a few episodes Alex was treaten right and still it was just for one minute she totally deserved more screen time and when she was on screen she shouldn’t get laughed at but admired at because she is smarter than anyone in her family

[@onemorething9911]

I was like Alex when I was young, so much internal pressure yet no one helped me. I don’t know what to do on the edge of depression 🙁

[@Camimolly2]

it is still a thing?? I definitely recommend to look for a psychologist, it helps a lot to understand how we deal with that

[@mau.moncayo]

If it's of any help, identifying there is an issue and looking to overcome it is a big step. I would also recommend looking for professional help (even when there is nothing wrong therapy is always helpful), and for what you can do, deconstructing my issues has helped me a lot in understanding myself, getting overwhelmed by something has a lot to do with not understanding it so writing about things or in some form making them tangible or something you can analyze makes them easier to dissect and even when you feel these things maybe they are less overwhelming because you now know a bit more about the why behind it all and can work towards something instead of just suffering. Hope you do well and treat yourself kindly through the process, and remember there are people around you who can be a great support. Even when thinking they don't "get you" never underestimate the power of someone just being there for you. It may be your battle but having someone in your corner truly helps.

[@kkk66969]

Did it helped?

[@Memorex996]

"Once you start overachieving people expect things from you. The world. Teachers. Parents. Other kids." Ive never been able to put that feeling into words. Im almost 30 and I dont feel like I've ever lived up to that early potential

[@pankajthakur65]

I tear up every time I watch this scene. I was like Alex until college putting unnecessary pressure on myself(still do) with no one understanding

[@PriyashJain]

Alex has been such a relatable character to me. Right from independently managing all the stress while no one has any idea and then feeling alone!

[@masha22092000r]

I was like this for most of my life. And than the first year of college came. Completely burned out. Failed nearly everything. Severe depression. Taking meds now. Feeling a bit better.

[@Marty32]

One step at a time! You’re doing great! If you feel overwhelmed or like you’re about to crash-slow yourself down, deep breath, and imagine one foot in front of the other. And then do it the next day!

[@bradleycotton3237]

5:58 has me in tears every time I watch this episode. 🥺😢😭

[@kim29817]

Same!

[@ashwinimohan1640]

What is the background music that plays during this scene please?

[@bradleycotton3237]

@kim29817 Poor Alex. 😢

[@shirleynelson4897]

same

[@motiyanibhagwan]

Why can't I get through this episode ever without tearing up!

[@ashutoshshirole8942]

I can literally relate to every word she said here. Alex is my fav character from the show.

[@seekerdrone]

Thank you for uploading this entire clip. I just watched this episode for the first time today, and it hit me hard. I will definitely be using this clip in a supervision session with my colleagues (I'm a social worker) as an illustration. Hopefully KZbin doesn't take it down!

[@bobbymcfakename6162]

U & me both

[@fenanluvsummer]

what episode is it?

[@toriesout8692]

Oh yes! This resonated with me during my school years. My siblings had the attention from our parents because they needed it, while I felt the need to excel and threw myself into my studies. If I wasn’t top of my class, I was a complete and total failure. Then after my mother died, I had to look after everyone too. Thankfully, I got past it. I just hope the school system has better systems in place to avoid burnout and mental health breakdown.

[@SheldonAdama17]

This episode raises a really good question: are we burning out our best and brightest before they even reach the starting gate of real life?

[@notroxa]

yeah yes absolutely you hit the nail on the head there is a well known pipeline for gifted kids, going straight into depressed anxious underachiving messes. its a super common experience well known by kids who excelled in early years. we did good in elementary school, and were given pressure to continue doing good, except because a lot of us didnt need help when we were young, so we werent given the tools we needed to succeed. its very common for kids who excell early to burn out quickly and be unable to pick ourselves back up because we were never taught how, we were just expected to do better

[@_danfiz]

Thank you for uploading this. I don't know why I'm crying to this.. I guess, I just want to be understood by others

[@hutch1197]

I was very much Alex in high school. This episode, especially the scene with her Mom at the end, hit really hard.

[@GeorgeRother]

That last scene always gets me.

[@ursatzotschew7541]

I think the 16 year old Alex was talking about was Jack Andraka. He was actually at John Hopkins studying Pancreatic Cancer around that time, and he managed to create a more efficient Pancreatic Cancer test. Smart guy, I saw his Ted Talk, pretty cool.

[@3N4N]

I uploaded this episode (concised and edited) because it's meaningful to me. There is another episode, from the show The Middle, that deals with a similar issue. Since it looks like people beside myself relate to this video, I'll upload an edited version of that Middle episode as well.

[@anthonymorales842]

loved the middle

[@3N4N]

I uploaded the episode from The Middle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3LKiqenmqxslc0.

[@sitimaarof6089]

Thank you.

[@lululemonade_]

This is my comfort episode 😭😭 I really connect with Alex's experience 🤧🤧

[@paulac.munoztorres]

I was around the same age as her at the time and I could feel her so much. I was under so much freaking pressure at high school and it never stopped since I was 14. It does take some time, and you really need to get a grip on yourself. Sometimes you are all alone at such you age.

[@_cin.a.ber_]

Everything in this video make me emotional 😭

[@samilojia]

This scene gets me every time 🥺

[@RQ_play]

This episode got me so emotional 😢

[@jordanlash2268]

I love Alex and Clarie relationship. I love the relationship between Julie and Ariel it is so sweet. So I love watching these two act together

[@AndyStarzs1]

I wish my family was as good as theirs. They weren’t.

[@fratgurkok3987]

Hollywood will do that to you. "The standart happy american family" as they put is so romanticised in tv shows that people just feel so unhappy when they compare their lives to those in shows and feel unhappy. Hell,I love my family to death and even I cant remember them getting me in highschool like claire did to her daughter in the video

[@wolfman231]

​@@fratgurkok3987this is a little late, but it took until Alex having a meltdown in junior year for Claire to understand. Note the spelling bee comment that Alex doubted her family even knew she was in it!

[@salomerodriguez5145]

But her family is terrible 🙃

[@Vinsomer]

As someone who has struggled with the same feelings, I have to give props to Ariel Winter's acting ability. She nailed how it is to look and respond to a lot of these questions so well.

[@ozmar6418]

It is because Ariel was having problems with her real family (mom) and this was a real meltdown (with the doctor) that's why when she answers the questions, it feels like she is about to cry.

[@vebastiansettel1173]

This Hits me so hard man. WTF I cried. My family is similar to her family. My parents are not rich, we just get by. My siblings live like they don't even have a single worry about tomorrow they just get by in school. And then me the middle siblings who think about everything about my job, my grades, my college, about anything that doesn't even happened or maybe will not even happen.

[@michaelbahr6416]

But her family IS rich

[@goddess_ofchaos]

I'm not crying, you're crying

[@tornedsky]

one of my favorite episodes ever

[@A-1622.]

As an over achiever middle child, this made me cry and im not even sure why

[@lukesoto1992]

Wow that one went really deep emotional beautiful and heartwarming an in moments like these when your at the point of getting pressured by certain things in life but there’s always someone to come to your side rather it’s family or friends and it’s ok to cry it’s not a sign of weakness it shows how much you really care about someone or somebody in life an in the world you are never truely alone so long as you have your family and your friends and you also have god an just watching this scene has taught me that remember keep smiling keep your head up an never give up be patient stay humble and stay true to yourself

[@thebakeosaurusrex8361]

I honestly get and relate to a lot of what Alex says and goes through, but the thing I can just never stand about her is despite everything, she still puts herself above the rest of her family, and in more than one occasion has expressed this and insulted her family’s intelligence directly, it just… I don’t know, annoys me about how she says she has a lack of support and attention and yet acts better than them

[@3N4N]

On Alex acting superior to her family: agreed that that's not relatable. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have a lack of support. It might mean the reason she lacks support is her own superiority complex. I wish this were also carefully explored in the show. Alas it wasn't.

[@toriesout8692]

Tbf she was mostly ignored. If she didn’t place herself first in something, nobody else was going to.

[@megha9789]

actually, why shouldnt she? in episodes where the family finally acknowledges alex's acheievements, hailey gets the spotlight! (the episode where she graduates, hailey steals that thunder by making it about andy and her, another episode where they are taking a tour of the campus, phil actually says hes proud of hailey and not of alex) all the other monkey siblings had to do the bare minimum and got so much support and love meanwhile not for alex. obviously that takes a toll! that being said, i do love how she is the most achieved one at the end.

[@TheOMGRamen]

Sometimes we just want to be heard and understood.

[@Nelaxst]

The scene where she said people were expecting things from her just because she’s smart hits hard. It’s like you always need to do better/have everything planned out and if you make one mistake people call you lucky when you receive and success things like Alex does.

[@Kruppt808]

This episode exploring Alex character. Series: Alright Alright thats enough of that, back to basics. Can't say we didn't give her one.

[@d1rtyharry378]

It's 10.30 am on a Tuesday and instead of working I am sobbing watching this. Fuck is wrong with me

[@jenaebeard]

I feel it would be beneficial if we all went to therapy like alex did at some point in our lives, and be able to talk to someone about what's going on in our busy hectic lives ( no matter what it is or what we're going threw). Having someone to be there to listen it could really help and make us feel heard as human beings.🙏🧸

[@kamotsgaming2304]

been visiting this video to remind me that someone would understand or be bothered to ask me if I'm okay.

[@naziatislam1149]

Started watching clips of the show really young. Didn't imagine growing into an Alex at the time, but I guess that's just how it went for me.

[@chumark54]

Sigh... only if it were so easy.

[@Keerthixme]

dis scene makes me cry every time i watch it

[@sipping_tea]

No wonder i had a meltdown too

[@MultiHarsh111]

Amazing acting by Alex! Reminds me of Good Will Hunting breakthrough scene.

[@GraceCole-qy6ul]

You may have stole my law school future with lsat tampering, but all that “studying” will help me childs.

[@Preethi9905]

Most imp episode... i love alex❤

[@matthewsstephens5945]

Sometimes, you just need a hug from your Mom!

[@assassinationtvgaming]

Am I the only one that thinks they couldn’t decide between Bryan Cranston or Aaron Paul to play the therapist and just found a guy who looks like the 2 of them combined

[@mahirrahmananan7025]

I feel Alex, you want to be perfect for you family expectations but I understand how much pressure she was in and i see people hating Alex but Alex is feels like me and it’s hard being that

[@kalpanashashimohan2117]

Wonderful ❤️

[@kamax4700]

My favourite episode

[@Goobie7]

Ok I’m a fan of overwatch, in the classroom that’s Symetra’s voice actor

[@jackfinley6550]

I never understood why people are like this, there’s more to life than what a letter says on a piece of paper

[@Fairygoblet]

Sometimes it's the only form of measurable validation somebody has. It may be the only way somebody can get validation that they feel they have complete control over. I think that Alex found the thing that she shined at, academics, when she was weaker in other areas like interpersonal skills. So she felt the pressure to be the best at it that she could be. But her family doesn't Express thier strengths in the same way, so she has more difficulty connecting with them, and them. with her sometimes.

[@anthonymorales842]

asian kids ouch no stereotyping on that one

[@daughterof_athena]

I cry every time I watch the last scene, because just once I wish my parents would say anything like that to me, and acknowledge how much pressure I'm under, instead of just constantly telling me how easy I have it.

[@ShubhikaSuraiya]

I can understand her I have my birthday when the new session starts and I don't wanna waste time from the beginning because of my stupid birthday

[@jorgedavidzepeda2670]

I have to be honest. When I was a kid I was so under pressure that I dreamed about doing that once in a while I mean, I had to be perfect with perfect grades, perfect behavior and my parents were getting divorced and I had to work also to get money for school and sometimes I felt I had to let it go and I just could not. I totally get her so please stay focus in the way kids now days fell so under pressure to let them know it is going to be ok.

[@biakhluihmar8228]

5:58 anyone knows the bg music?

[@LilyGraceySa]

This episode was so so hard on me because I'm the Alex of my family.

[@UnknownAutist-pb6ml]

An Asian kid’s fever dream:

[@keymot1491]

دمرت نفسيتي في الثانوي والمتوسط مع قياس وموهبة وغيرهم، والحين دخلت طب وقاعد اعيش ضغط ما قد عشته وقاعد اتساءل انا ليه كذا، المشكلة الطب مو شغفي بس ما ادرى ليه دخلته مدري وش ابغى اثبت لنفسي

[@poojakedia3631]

100% cry rate

[@nigellewis2132]

Hmmm, friends have been trying to convince me to go get therapy, This is kinda selling it to me

[@liamdavis2068]

And that’s what happens wen u sacrifice ur life just to get into Harvard.

[@WJen8]

I've often felt bad for Alex throughout the show...

[@TheGoldenConnorific]

I was one of the asian kids in her class...

[@tdawg4998]

Claire taking time to count to 6 😅

[@floweiral-]

shes me im her

[@abhishekcp2024]

😢

[@nav_2709]

2:57 the irony 😂

[@sajidulhasan2027]

Which season and episode from the middle please? Can't find it in your videos

[@3N4N]

I didn't get around to uploading it. I'll try and do it this weekend. Meanwhile, it's from season 6 episode 5 of The Middle, where Axl gets locked inside a library and talks to a bust of Shakespeare about anxiety over his future.

[@3N4N]

This weekend turned into two months but in the end I uploaded it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3LKiqenmqxslc0.

[@shield2957]

Man isnt that relatable... A common phrase i get is "idm where you got this brain of yours"... Took me a while to adjust to the pressure of university and take a load off... I had more breakdowns than i can count, but my family never saw any of them. That kinda hit home

[@sakshishekhar5211]

❤