Why The Pitt’s Taylor Dearden Needed Professional Help To Recover From Filming The Show

Since The Pitt became a sensation, many of the TV show's biggest fans have been looking forward to its future. Between news that a spin-off is "possible" already and headlines about potential Season 2 storylines, The Pitt fans have a lot to be excited about the show's future. However, it is still worthwhile to look at the show's first season since it featured incredibly meaningful scenes and dialogue that was so powerful that The Pitt may be the best medical show ever.

Looking back at The Pitt Season 1 also allows fans to learn more about the show's fantastic cast, which makes the show possible. For example, it has only recently been revealed that filming The Pitt Season 1 was so hard on Taylor Dearden that she sought professional help to recover.

Taylor Dearden Explained Why She Got Help From A Chiropractor To Recover From Filming The Pitt

When most people imagine what it would be like to star in a major movie or TV show, they envision enjoying a life of luxury. To be clear, there certainly are valid reasons for people to think that, since there is no denying that parts of the job are very cushy.

However, the thing that a lot of people don't seem to realize is that there are many aspects of being a successful actor that are very demanding. For example, actors tend to spend long days on set. On top of that, flying to film all over the world would be awesome in a lot of ways, but constantly being away from your loved ones would also take a toll.

Another thing that a lot of fans don't consider is how physically demanding being an actor can be. While most actors don't do incredibly dangerous stunts like Tom Cruise, they can still suffer for their work. A perfect example of that is the fact that Taylor Dearden sought the help of a chiropractor to recover from filming The Pitt.

In June 2025, Taylor made an appearance during an episode of the Collider series hosted by Perri Nemiroff, "Collider Ladies Night."

The Pitt's Best Characters, According to Collider
The Pitt Character	Rank
Dennis Whitaker	#10
Victoria Javadi	#9
Dr. Trinity Santos	#8
Dr. Cassie McKay	#7
Dr. Samira Mohan	#6
Dr. Frank Langdon	#5
Dana Evans	#4
Dr. Mel King	#3
Dr. Heather Collins	#2
Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch	#1

During the resulting conversation, Taylor stated that she got the help of a chiropractor/kinesiologist to cope with the stresses of filming The Pitt. As Taylor explained, she would feel stiff after filming The Pitt and got help to recover.

"So you end up walking home, and you're like, 'I'm not straight.' And so just having the routine of getting massages, finding a chiropractor, or in my case, a chiropractor/kinesiologist who's just a genius, and is so helpful."

Taylor went on to elaborate on other ways that she and her The Pitt co-stars have learned to deal with the demands of filming the show. "But it's stuff like a lot of the self-care that we didn't know we needed until it was a little too late first season. And I think we're all also, even with the traumas, we're trying to bring down our energy so that it can stay consistent for eight months."

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Since Taylor and her co-stars are just actors, some fans may be confused as to why they would need help to recover. As it turns out, it is one of The Pitt's greatest strengths as a show that has made its cast suffer.

Before starring in The Pitt, Taylor Dearden landed roles in a handful of other movies and TV shows. For example, Taylor appeared in 10 episodes of Sweet/Victorious, 8 episodes of American Vandal, and 3 episodes of For All Mankind. Taylor also appeared in a single episode of Breaking Bad, a show that starred her father, Bryan Cranston.

Virtually everyone who watches The Pitt winds up marveling at how realistic the show is. While talking to Collider, Taylor explained that The Pitt actors really do lift people on and off hospital beds, like doctors and nurses do in real-life.

"It's also an incredibly physical show. No one's coming to lift the people off the blanket. We are doing that ourselves."

Taylor went on to explain to Collider that there is another aspect of how realistic The Pitt is that makes her suffer.

While talking to Decider in February 2025, Taylor Dearden explained how she influenced the portrayal of her character, Dr. Melissa "Mel" King. "I’m neurodivergent so I think it’s really coming from me. I have severe ADHD. So we’re on the same spectrum now as autism, which was I think for all ADHD people was like, ‘Ohhhhh.’ And then all autistic people are like, ‘That’s why we got along with them.’ I’ve never really seen a character, especially with ADHD, but being on the same spectrum, it just feels, it felt right anyway.”

Taylor explained that since doctors and nurses in real-life lift patients from a specific side, she and the other actors had to put their bodies through repetitive stress.

"It's also weird stuff. So the doctors are always in reality, typically on the patient's right, and the nurses are on the left. And so if you're a doctor, you're always lifting and going only in one direction. The nurses step on the bed and pull forward towards them. And so if you're a doctor, you're either doing it this way or this way."

Amazingly enough, Taylor went on to reveal one more reason why filming The Pitt is so physically taxing.

Amielynn Abellera and Fiona Dourif on The Pitt

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When doctors and nurses lift patients in real-life, they have to do it once. However, as Taylor explained to Collider, she and The Pitt's other stars have to lift the actors playing patients several times in a short period of time.

"It's still film and TV, so it's take after take after take. And it's just one-sided."

The Pitt's Patrick Ball and Taylor Dearden sitting beside each other in a hospital

Even though human beings are capable of incredible things, people's bodies can be all too vulnerable.

Given how easily repetitive tasks can break a person's body down, Taylor's remarks to Collider make perfect sense. In fact, Taylor deserves to be praised for being intelligent enough to get help with the consequences she suffered from filming The Pitt.

Why Taylor Dearden's Comments About Getting Help After Filming The Pitt Prove How Realistic The Show Is

Since The Pitt premiered, the show has been praised by viewers from across the spectrum. Still, it is the comments that real-life medical professionals have made about The Pitt that are the most fascinating. With that in mind, it is interesting to look at Taylor Dearden's decision to get help from a chiropractor/kinesiologist in the context of what real doctors and nurses go through.

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In September 2021, the website of The National Library of Medicine published an article that detailed the findings of an interesting study.

That study looked at the low back pain that health care providers suffer from as a result of the demands of their work.

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That study found that 54.8% of healthcare personnel suffer from lower back pain. Furthermore, the study detailed the dangers that medical workers are exposed to that lead to the prevalence of lower back pain.

"Health care personnel are exposed to ergonomic hazards, musculoskeletal disorders, and other work-related injuries. Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder."

Hopefully further advances in technology and better understandings of the risks will help future generations of healthcare professionals to suffer significantly less.