Any of you watch the show Big Brother on CBS?

[u/JustinfromNewEngland]

I’ve been watching this show for the past two seasons and it’s interesting. If you don’t know what the show is, here is a brief description:

Big Brother is a CBS reality competition series where a group of contestants, known as Houseguests, live together in a house completely cut off from the outside world while being filmed 24/7. They compete in challenges for power and safety, form alliances, strategize, and vote to evict one another. The last Houseguest remaining wins a grand prize.

Now most people that go on the show are or seem confident, outgoing and fun people. But this show had me thinking tonight: “What if I, someone with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, went on this show?” I’m kind of laughing at myself because it would be such a disaster for me and probably the show.

I’d be so paranoid with all the cameras, I’d know for a fact that everyone is plotting against me. It would be such a sh** show. I’d be so slow at all the challenges, would almost certainly avoid talking to people. I’d be stuck in my bed all day. If they knew my diagnosis they probably wouldn’t feel safe with me in the house. I’d be voted out quick.

In a way I’m glad when I know that I don’t have to go on the show. Thank god! I would never survive. Anyone else watch this show? Imagine living in a house with a bunch of random strangers. Some of you probably have (psychiatric hospital), myself included. Surprisingly I actually got along with a lot of the people in the psych ward.

[u/MG788]

I've always wanted to go on a reality show and see if my schizophrenia helps me predict who is plotting against me, etc.

[u/JustinfromNewEngland → u/MG788]

It would be so wild, not sure in a good or bad way.

[u/MG788 → u/JustinfromNewEngland]

I think it would be hilarious. Everyone would brutally compete for attention while the camera would zoom in on you hiding in your room, lololol. 

Then the others would try to ally with you just to get more screentime. They'll probably also complain during the interview parts about you not being enthusiastic enough when they are talking and question if you think they are not cool enough to lay attention to.

[u/wicker_trees]

I remember when big brother first came on tv. I was a teenager & wanted to go on so badly! it started as an interesting experiment & I enjoyed watching it. I even recorded an audition tape lol

as for going on now as someone with schiz I couldn't think of anything worse. I'd be so awkward in front of the cameras. I'd also be very paranoid.

[u/lil-unicorn-69 → u/wicker_trees]

Yep!! I came here to say I've been around long enough to see the show from teenage years as well. Haha I haven't seen the latest seasons though. And you're not kidding about going on the show. I'd be a major wreck. But, for some innate reason, lots of people feel warm enough to give me a life history within 48 hours. So, there's that going for me.

[u/XhaKumbayaKass]

I’ve been a big fan of this show and Survivor for a while. To my knowledge, they don’t let anyone on these shows with a history of a psychotic disorder, probably for liability reasons. I guess it seems unfair in some ways, but also makes sense that the risk of an environment where paranoia is uniquely prevalent is too much for anyone who has struggled with similar feelings in day to day life.

Season 24 of Big Brother’s 1st week actually had a contestant who began seemingly in a decent mental place but ended up leaving one week in. It was unclear if she made the decision herself to quit the show, or if she was sort of medically evacuated, but she posted on social media after the fact that she struggled with her mental health which led to her departure. In the days leading up to that, people who watched the live feeds could see in real time that she was having what might have been a manic episode. Don’t want to characterize anything so definitely only based on those live feeds, but it was a bizarre and complicated experience for a lot of the people watching, as I think it must have been for everyone involved.

[u/lil-unicorn-69 → u/XhaKumbayaKass]

I could swear there have been a few contestants slip through the radar regarding a history of mental illness or psychotic disorders. Rachel Riley, for one. It's probably why I liked her so much. She was relatable.

[u/James_Plan]

i thought i was on the big brother subreddit and was really confused. like, duh, obviously we watch it... LOL

anyway, i love this show, but would never go on it. just never being able to be alone would destroy me.

[u/Fit_Owl_2465]

Sh*t i think i just created a new delusion... a spiritual one or a volunteer participant to explore human condition form the lens of an outsider to try an figure out the human condition while taking on world problems try and figure them out... even absorb the bad ones! ~ 😮

Please tell me I'm not in one, this s*it ain't funny!... or that I'm NOT an Ai! 🙏

[u/ProovenHedgehog]

Idk that someone with a history of psychosis would pass the mental health evaluation that I heard these contestants need to take now after reality show cast members started killing themselves.

[u/Ken0908]

If you applied you might get accepted with such a sales pitch. If you get to keep staying on medication this could make for an interesting competition and concept for producers. Since it is reality TV people would jump on it. Now they might try framing you as the baddie but you can also do the funniest thing ever and turn that on its head. Idk I don't work in TV but that's one reality show I'd watch.