“I completely lost touch with reality”: Behind the scenes of The Traitors, contestants’ mental health is taken very seriously

Everyone knows The Traitors. Since it arrived on M6, the show has become a cultural phenomenon, this mix of strategy, bluffing, and betrayal that keeps us hooked for weeks. But while it’s pure entertainment for us viewers, for the contestants, it’s a completely different story. In recent days, while chatting with a few of them and hearing some behind-the-scenes stories, one thing is crystal clear: this season, the pressure has reached unprecedented levels.

A psychologist on set: the game-changing measure

We often imagine reality TV shoots as well-oiled machines, with contestants happily playing along. But The Traitors is a different beast. The format, based on psychological manipulation and constant suspicion, can literally make even the strongest minds crack. For the first time, the production has decided to tackle the issue head-on by having a psychologist permanently on standby. And believe me, this isn’t just marketing fluff; it’s an absolute necessity.

A former contestant from the current season, still visibly affected by the experience, told me: “You don’t realise what it’s like just watching on screen. Within two days, you become paranoid. You can’t tell who’s lying, who’s telling the truth, and you start doubting yourself. I completely lost touch with reality. It’s a massive mental strain. But this time, having a psychologist available, right next to the set, changes everything. You can vent at 3 AM after an intense round table, and it’s a lifesaver.”

“I cried for three days”: the reality behind the game

We tend to forget that behind the traitors and the faithful, there are real people. And the game pushes them to their absolute limits. There’s a story making the rounds among the crew, told by one of the participants who just left the adventure. He was in a daze. Not because of the elimination, but because of the constant atmosphere of mistrust. He admitted to me, his eyes still glistening at the memory: “I cried for three days after I was eliminated. Not out of sadness, but out of relief. It was like stepping out of a psychological war zone.”

What struck me about this season is the collective awakening. Production isn’t just filming the breakdowns anymore; they’re anticipating them. Players now have dedicated time slots to go talk, to recharge. It’s not a luxury; it’s the cornerstone of the whole setup. Because to play mind games, you first need to keep your head on straight.

Chilling confessions from behind the scenes

Let me give you a quick rundown, without naming names (because a contract is a contract), of what’s coming out of these behind-the-scenes conversations. Contestants describe a shoot that feels less like a simple competition and more like a claustrophobic, anxiety-inducing ordeal:

• Loss of sense of time: The shooting days are so long and intense that some lose track of what day it is. The game becomes an alternate reality.
• Traitor syndrome: Those wearing the mask live under constant stress. They have to lie 24/7, and some end up convincing themselves they’re the “villains” of the story, which generates an immense amount of guilt.
• Faithful in distress: Paradoxically, it’s often the “good guys” who crack the most. Their inability to unmask the traitors makes them feel like personal failures, a feeling that can become obsessive.

A success story balanced on a knife's edge

What makes The Traitors so compelling is that constant tension. But seeing production’s commitment to the psychological well-being this year, I realise that the show’s success is a tightrope walk. Too much pressure, and the game breaks. Not enough, and you lose authenticity.

So yes, we love watching Eric Antoine conduct his investigations with his usual calm demeanour, and we cheer when a traitor gets exposed. But I assure you, knowing what goes on behind the scenes makes you look at the contestants differently. You realise they’re not just “players”; they’re mental athletes, navigating extremely troubled waters for our entertainment.

The good news is that this season, no one is truly sinking. Because even in this great game of manipulation, production has understood there’s a line that cannot be crossed. And that, in turn, guarantees us many more seasons of betrayal… safely.