The only thing worse than an awful night’s sleep, is two awful night’s sleep. And if they keep adding up, it becomes almost impossible to feel like yourself.

So, in this episode, Dr. Diane McIntosh is talking about chronic insomnia through the eyes of Allison, a 52-year-old woman who battled sleepless nights for most of her adult life. From waking up exhausted with "baseballs for eyes", to shying away from socializing because she was so tired, Allison explains what it’s like to live with a disorder that affects 10% of the population.

Dr. McIntosh breaks down the science behind chronic insomnia while exploring the vicious cycle of poor sleep and declining mental health. As always, she’s joined by psychologist Dr. Randy Mackoff to talk about treatment. From the dangers of self-medicating to the promising new class of medications, this episode provides both hope and practical solutions for anyone trapped in the exhausting world of sleepless nights.

For more resources, go here.

When Stephanie's mother was diagnosed with dementia following a stroke, everything changed. In this episode, Dr. Diane McIntosh explores the realities of dementia caregiving through Stephanie's powerful story, from managing impossible schedules to making heartbreaking decisions about care facilities.

Whether you're caring for someone with dementia, supporting a caregiver, or preparing for what may lie ahead, this episode offers compassionate guidance and hope.

Plus expert insights from psychologist Dr. Randy Mackoff on effective treatment approaches.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why dementia caregiving involves pre-death grieving and how to navigate conflicting emotions
• The importance of self-care and why caregiver burnout is so common
• How to recognize when medication might help manage psychiatric symptoms in dementia patients
• Practical strategies for medical appointments and advocating for your loved one
• Why talking about your fear of developing dementia yourself is essential, not selfish

Additional information and support resources are available here.

The Alzheimer Society of Canada is here.

At just 10 years old, Cedar walked into her doctor's office asking for weight loss recommendations, despite being dangerously underweight. Her perception of herself, together with her desperate need for control, marked the beginning of a decade-long battle with anorexia nervosa.

In this episode of PSYCHEDUP, Dr. Diane McIntosh pulls back the curtain on eating disorders, exposing how these devastating illnesses have little to do with food and everything to do with control and trauma.

Dr. McIntosh teams up with psychologist Dr. Randy Mackoff to explore the complex treatment landscape for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. They debunk myths around eating disorders, examine social media's role in exacerbating body image issues, and explain why psychological inflexibility and rigid thoughts about self-worth create dangerous patterns. This episode offers hope for those trapped in any cycle involving food restriction, over exercising, and binging and purging, while providing essential guidance for the families desperately trying to support them.

You'll Discover:

• How eating disorders are rooted in control and trauma, rather than diet or appearance, and why the thoughts feel "almost abusive" to those experiencing them.
• Why anorexia has the second-highest death rate of any mental illness due to heart complications and suicide, and how individuals can be at risk of sudden death.
• How eating disorders thrive on secrecy and dishonesty, destroying trust with parents, friends and partners, while affecting every aspect of their lives.
• Why managing co-existing depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD is essential in finding a path to recovery.
• Why eating disorders have been wrongly considered female illnesses, and why family therapy and support systems are absolutely critical, especially when disorders start in childhood.

Resources:

Additional information and support resources are available here.