"Red Door, Yellow Door": A Dangerous Game Among Teenagers or Another TikTok Trend

At first glance, it's just a game. Teenagers lie down on the floor, close their eyes, someone holds their hands over their foreheads and whispers: "Red door, yellow door"... But then strange things happen: someone gets sick, someone stops talking, someone panics.

This is not mysticism. And not fiction. This is a dangerous game with the psyche, which is actively spreading on TikTok and groups for teenagers. What is behind the desire to "play trance", how it can end and how to protect your child – psychologist and crisis consultant Iryna Shenier explained especially for LIGA.Life .

What is the point of the game?

The National Social Service of Ukraine reported that a dangerous game called "Red Door, Yellow Door," also known as "Doors of the Mind," has begun to spread among teenagers. In it, one teenager becomes the "guide," the other the "player," who is put into a trance-like state.

A teenager who plays begins to see imaginary "visions," as if entering another world. But in reality, this game is manipulation and a form of psychological influence.

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Publication from • Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@zptown)

Why "Red Door, Yellow Door" Appeals to Teens

Iryna Chenier said that during adolescence, identity is formed – "Who am I? Am I special? Where is the limit of my experience?" That is why teenagers are drawn to everything that gives a sense of otherness, risk, "secret knowledge":

— A game like "Red Door, Yellow Door" simulates the experience of diving into the subconscious, allowing you to feel "chosen" or "brave." It's like a free ticket to the world of mysticism, subconscious visions, and "adult fear." And it's also a way to belong to a group. After all, on TikTok it's a "trend," and in real life it's a test of "whether you belong."

What risks may arise after participating in such trans-like games?

Unlike usual role-playing games, trance-like practices change the state of consciousness. The teenager loses control, enters a state of semi-hypnosis, and opens an internal emotional "archive" for which he is not yet ready, says the psychologist.

Possible consequences:

• anxiety disorders;
• panic attacks;
• sleep disturbances;
• obsessive thoughts or fears;
• isolation, mood swings, aggression.

Even a one-time "game" can become a trigger for exacerbating already existing psychological vulnerability, especially in children with anxiety, hypersensitivity, or a difficult family situation.

Can this game really cause mental disorders?

— Yes, maybe. Not always, but there is a risk, — says Iryna Chenier.

After participating, the child can:

• suddenly change behavior;
• to withdraw into oneself;
• begin to avoid contact, be afraid of the dark, will not be able to sleep alone;
• exhibit emotional instability or, conversely, "disconnection";
• complain about strange dreams, fears, thoughts that "haunt" her.

Remember: even if the game seems "innocent," the child's psyche is still forming. And any intervention without protection and understanding can have consequences.

How parents can suspect their child's involvement in the game

The expert explained that the first thing you need to do is observe the child and not criticize.

Signs that should alert you:

• the child changes interests abruptly, becomes withdrawn, avoids conversations;
• speaks enthusiastically about mystical or "energy" practices that previously did not interest her;
• a specific lexicon appears: "guide", "subconscious", "exit", "door";
• the child is afraid to sleep or turn on the light;
• The teenager distances himself from friends, except for those who are "in the subject."

Irina Chenier advises: "Don't scare your child with phrases like 'you're playing Satanism.' This will only shut them down. Ask an open question: 'Have you heard of this game? What do you think about it?' This way you will maintain a bridge of trust."

Why is it dangerous to submit to a "leader" in a game – from a psychological point of view?

— This part of the game is especially disturbing. One participant (the leader) controls the behavior of another, gives instructions, "leads" him in an altered state of consciousness. That is, the child gives up control over himself — and learns that this is normal.

In real life, this increases the risk of becoming a victim of psychological or even sexual violence. Because the child already has experience – obeying without questions, trusting, even if it's scary, – said the psychologist.

"In addition, submission to a "leader" and group pressure can be used to prepare adolescents to commit dangerous or criminal acts, in particular in favor of an aggressor country," the National Social Service of Ukraine added.

How to protect children: tips for parents and schools

Iryna Shenier told parents what to do to protect their children from dangerous trends:

• Talk about it openly. Don't scare, but explain: "There are games that can harm the psyche. We don't want to limit you – we want you to be safe."
• Explain how the psyche works. The more a child understands that trance is not magic but brain physiology, the less likely they are to get carried away by it.
• Support critical thinking. Help your child recognize manipulation, discuss examples from movies, news, and social media.
• Teach how to say "no" to a group. Role-play situations: "Imagine, your friends are calling you — and you don't want to. What would you say?" This gives your child an internal tool for protection.
• Schools should not be silent, but speak out. Informing is better than bans. Lectures, interactive activities, meetings with psychologists are what really works.

Teenagers are not stupid or "confused." They are looking for themselves. And their strength. It's just that they are often in the wrong places.

"Our task as adults is not to scare, but to be there. Not to control, but to support. Not to close the door, but to open a window of trust," Iryna Chenier summarized.