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

Everyone knows The Traitors. Since it launched on M6, the show has become a cultural phenomenon – that 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 whole different story. In the last few days, chatting with some of them and hearing what goes on behind the scenes, one thing is clear: this season, the pressure has hit levels never seen before.

A psychologist on set: the game-changing measure

We often imagine reality TV shoots as well-oiled machines, with contestants happy to play along. But The Traitors is a different beast. The format, built 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 on-site permanently. And believe me, this isn't marketing spin – it's an absolute necessity.

One former contestant from the current season, still affected by the experience, told me: "You don't realise it watching on screen. Within two days, you become paranoid. You don’t know who’s lying, who’s telling the truth, and you start doubting yourself. I completely lost my bearings. Your mental state is pushed to the edge. But this time, having a psychologist available, right next to the set, changes everything. You can get things off your chest at 3am after a tense round table, and it saves you."

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

It’s easy to forget that behind the traitors and the faithful, there are real people. And the game pushes them to their limits. A story is doing the rounds among the crew, told by one of the participants after leaving the adventure. He was in a daze. Not because of the elimination itself, but because of the constant atmosphere of mistrust. He admitted to me, his eyes still welling up at the memory: “I cried for three days after I was eliminated. Not out of sadness, but relief. It felt like coming out of a psychological warzone.”

What struck me about this season is the collective awareness. The production no longer just films the breakdowns; they anticipate them. Players now have dedicated time slots to go and talk, to recharge. This isn’t a luxury; it’s the cornerstone of the whole setup. Because to play the game, you first need to keep your head on straight.

Chilling behind-the-scenes confessions

Here’s a quick list, without naming names (a contract is a contract), of what comes up in those off-camera chats. Contestants describe a shoot that feels more like a claustrophobic pressure cooker than a simple competition:

• Loss of time perspective: the 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 creates immense guilt.
• Faithful in distress: paradoxically, it’s often the “good guys” who crack the most. The inability to uncover the traitors makes them feel like personal failures, which can become obsessive.

A success that walks a tightrope

What makes The Traitors so good is that constant tension. But seeing the production’s focus on the psychological aspect this year, I realise the show’s success relies on a tightrope balance. 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, and we cheer when a traitor gets unmasked. But I promise you, once you know what goes on behind the scenes, you see the contestants in a different light. You realise they aren’t just “players” – they are mental athletes, navigating very murky waters for our entertainment.

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