Imagine missing out on life’s major milestones because it is just too hard to show up. This is what social anxiety disorder can do. But with proper treatment, it gets better.
Join Dr. Diane McIntosh as she explores social anxiety disorder, a condition that goes far beyond normal shyness and can rob people of life's most important moments. This episode features Hannah's powerful story of missing her graduation and struggling through high school, plus expert insights from Dr. McIntosh and psychologist Dr. Randy Mackoff on effective treatment approaches.
You’ll discover:
What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Understanding the difference between shyness and a clinical diagnosis that affects up to 10% of adults
Real-Life Impact: How fear of judgment and scrutiny leads to avoidance, missed opportunities, and isolation
Social Media's Role: how constant comparison effects self-esteem anxiety
How using alcohol or cannabis as a "social lubricant" creates more problems than it solves
Treatment Options: CBT, exposure therapy, medication management, and when each approach works best
Resources
Additional information and support resources are available here.
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This is Psychosis
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.
Resources:
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
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This is Resilience
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 her podcast, click here.
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PSYCHEDUP is Back!
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.
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A Love Affair with the Unknown
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
Mental illnesses are tough, frightening, isolating, and sometimes even life-threatening. Whether you’ve experienced one yourself or supported someone who has, mental illnesses touch us all.So let’s get educated, because there is help.Each episode of PSYCHEDUP focuses on one mental illness: depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar and panic disorder.We hear directly from people living with these illnesses, gaining an honest glimpse into their realities. We also cover symptoms, diagnosis and treatments, from medications to talk therapy or both.Hosted by Dr. Diane McIntosh, psychiatrist, author, educator and passionate advocate for better mental health care, PSYCHEDUP is your guide to understanding mental illness and finding hope.This podcast was created as a follow-up to Wicked Mind, which explored ways to inspire change in mental health care. PSYCHEDUP builds on that foundation by focusing on understanding mental illnesses, sharing patient stories, and exploring treatments and expert insights.
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