The Mental Torture of a Faithful at the Hands of the Traitors

The new Celebrity Traitors line up was reveled last week, with the anticipation and excitement that surrounds the show I am reminded that I caught a clip of an interview on the Kelly Clarkson show with Alan Cumming who hosts the American version of the popular tv show Traitors. He talked about the mental torture of the contestants, how they go a little bonkers, and make illogical decisions not knowing who to trust, or what is truth and what is lies. Traitors is filmed over a period of just weeks, yet you can see the faithful's jumping on the suggestions of others they think they can trust because they are so confused.

I LOVE watching Traitors, but it often feels like observing an entertaining and voluntary contest between narcissists and empaths. With two big differences:

Firstly the faithful's know they are up against traitors and secondly the faithful's stand a chance of winning in this game!

The fact that the Faithful's feel the confusion, the doubt, and the mental torture in such a short space of time shows just how easy it is to get into someone’s mind and play games, and how utterly exhausting and debilitating it would be to live like that all the time, which empaths caught in the lies and deceit of a narcissist do. 

Although I thoroughly enjoy watching the Traitors the similarities are pretty scary.

For anyone who watched the UK version Season 4 hosted by the incredible Claudia Winkleman you would have seen how Rachel expertly manipulated almost every one in the castle to vote for Fiona as soon as she knew she was under threat from her, which is exactly what a narcissist does, (I am not for one moment suggesting that Rachel is a narcissist, just that her tactics for playing the game of traitors are very similar if not the same tactics used by narcissists). They get everyone one their side and completely discredit the person who threatens to expose them. Fiona, although she was a traitor herself had adopted the role of empath and pointed the finger at Rachel loudly and obviously, she had lost her composure and Rachel took full advantage and sat back and scoffed at her. Fiona received nine votes out of a possible fourteen to be banished from the castle. 

On the same series there was Harriet, an ex-barrister and crime writer, she caught on to Rachel and eventually tried to out her, she became so angry and frustrated by Rachel’s ability to stay calm and blatantly lie that she made herself look like she was the one who was victimising someone who was claiming to be a faithful, and as Rachel had everyone on her side, Harriet was banished from the castle taking her frustrations with her. 

Then there was Alan Carr on the last celebrity version, Nick Mohammad had been convinced all the way through that his new best buddy Joe was a faithful just like him then at the very last moment Alan Carr - a traitor, went for one last plea, stated that Joe was a traitor and confused poor Nick who turned on his best buddy, losing the game for them both. 

Claudia herself stated that one of the main traits that a good traitor has is charm, and charm mixed with the ability to lie and manipulate makes an excellent traitor who creates fantastic entertainment for many... or a narcissist that creates a living hell for a chosen few.

Lies and manipulative behaviour cause confusion, frustration and long term can be so damaging, if they stayed in there too long they would probably come out of there with emotional baggage and trust issues.

Not knowing who you can trust, the emotional whiplash of feeling so sure you have the answer only then to be thrown another curve ball. 

It’s so much fun to watch it all unfold on the Traitors, but living with constant lies and manipulation in reality was absolute mental and emotional torture.

Remember you are better than you think you are xx

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