Imagine trying to go about your day with angry voices saying awful things at you. Or trying to concentrate in a meeting while you’re convinced the smell of rotting meat was coming from you.

Welcome to John’s world. In this episode of PSYCHEDUP, Dr. Diane McIntosh explores the complex and distressing symptoms of psychosis through his personal story.

Dr. McIntosh is joined by Dr. Randy Mackoff to discuss the roles of medication and talk therapy in managing psychosis.

You’ll Discover:

• What psychosis really is and how it shows up across disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
• What it’s like to live with psychosis: John’s reality of hearing voices and believing delusions.
• The different types of psychotic symptoms, from hallucinations to delusions.
• How psychosis is treated, including medication, therapy, and the role of family support.
• Why stigma makes recovery harder and how empathy, education, and advocacy can change lives.

• Explore Dr. Diane McIntosh’s psychosis page for more information, including a downloadable and shareable guide to psychosis.
• Visit the BC Schizophrenia Society’s website for support.
• Learn about bipolar disorder

Adversity is inevitable, how we respond to it can change everything.

Between economic uncertainty, political instability, and personal challenges with health, finances, or relationships, life can be overwhelming. Yet there’s still so much good worth celebrating. How do we balance it all and hold on to hope and happiness? The answer is resilience.

Broadcaster and author Gill Deacon joins Diane to share her journey through serious health challenges, showing how perspective, gratitude, and acceptance can create space for healing and hope. Later, psychologist Dr. Randy Mackoff returns to share practical tools for building resilience, from mindset shifts to self-talk strategies. In this episode of PSYCHEDUP, Dr. Diane McIntosh explores resilience—the science and practice of not just surviving hardship, but emerging stronger.

What You’ll Discover:

• What resilience really is and why it’s more than “toughing it out.
• Gill Deacon’s journey through multiple potentially deadly health diagnoses and the strategies that helped her thrive.
• The role of perspective — how small moments can mean the most.
• Practical resilience-building tools — from managing expectations to reframing negative self-talk.
• The truth about control — why accepting what we can’t change is just as important as taking charge of what we can.

Resources:

• Explore Dr. McIntosh's page on resilience here.
• To listen to Gill Deacon's podcast, listen here. To listen to her podcast, click here.

PSYCHEDUP is back with more episodes on Oct. 10, 2025. Mental illness touches us all, whether you've experienced it yourself or supported someone who has. Let’s get educated, because there is help.

More episodes coming soon! Dr. Diane McIntosh is hard at work exploring social anxiety disorder, psychosis, dementia, and more for our next season, which launches OCTOBER 10.

In the meantime, enjoy this episode of A Love Affair with the Unknown. Host Gill Deacon is a friend of the show and a guest of an upcoming PSYCHEDUP episode. In this episode, she talks to former federal cabinet minister Lisa Raitt about strength and power in the face of caring for a loved one with a debilitating disease.

We can’t wait for you to hear it.

You can also catch up on past episodes or share them with someone you know.

Resources:

Dr. Diane McIntosh

A Love Affair with the Unknown

Anxiety is something we can all relate to. But how do we distinguish between normal worry and pathological anxiety? What’s the difference between a panic attack and panic disorder? In this episode Dr. Diane McIntosh gets into the science behind this disorder, explains symptoms and talks about why it’s so important to reach out for help. We also hear from Annette, who did everything she could to pretend she was ok, until there was no hiding that she wasn’t. She shares her firsthand perspective of what it’s like to have panic disorder. Then, Dr. Diane McIntosh along with her friend and colleague Dr. Randy Mackoff, explores the latest in treatments from talk therapy to medication. Listen to this episode of PSYCHEDUP for credible, current and empathetic information on panic disorder.

What is post traumatic stress disorder? Do childhood traumas make some of us more susceptible to it than others? How can we tell the difference between emotional trauma and PTSD? In this episode Dr. Diane McIntosh answers these questions and many more. Chelan is our guest and she shares her experience with PTSD and the steps she took to a diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Randy Mackoff and Dr. McIntosh explore the benefits of talk therapy and the latest advances in medication for treating PTSD. Listen in for an honest and empathetic conversation about PTSD, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

In this episode of PSYCHEDUP, we explore bipolar disorder, a condition defined by two extreme mood poles. Our guest Pauline pulls back the curtain on what living with bipolar disorder is really like, revealing the challenges she faces, the ultimate highs, the depressive lows and how it impacts her relationships. Then, Dr. Diane McIntosh with her friend and colleague Dr. Randy Mackoff share their expertise in treating bipolar disorder, providing valuable guidance for people who have or know someone who has the disorder. Listen in for a compassionate, hands-on approach to understanding and managing this complex but treatable condition.

ADHD is often associated with creativity, quick thinking, and boundless energy, traits that many admire and even consider superpowers. But for people with untreated ADHD, the reality can look very different. Untreated symptoms can lead to challenges that impact daily life and wellbeing. Yet, ADHD is one of the most treatable neurodevelopmental conditions. So, let’s dig into ADHD with psychiatrist Dr. Diane McIntosh. She answers those lingering questions like: Is ADHD overdiagnosed? Are the medications safe and truly necessary? Joining the conversation is Robert, a young professional who not only lives with ADHD but thrives with it. And, as always, PSYCHEDUP’s resident psychologist, Dr. Randy Mackoff, talks about treatment options with Dr. McIntosh. Listen in to this episode of PSYCHEDUP for practical, credible and empathetic information on ADHD.