Side Quest Stories: Psychosis in Their Own Words - Episode 6: Genevieve
Editor's Note
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity, readability, and flow. Repetitions, filler words, and transcription artefacts have been removed while preserving the speaker's intended meaning and perspective.
Introduction
In the sixth and final episode of Side Quest Stories: Psychosis in Their Own Words, I speak with Dr Genevieve McKenzie, who reflects on her experiences of bipolar disorder, psychosis, hallucinations, recovery, and acceptance.
Genevieve discusses how psychosis has shaped her understanding of reality, the importance of support systems, and the value of seeking help when unusual experiences become overwhelming. Throughout the conversation, she offers a concise but powerful perspective on living with psychosis and finding stability over time.
Key Themes
Bipolar disorder
Auditory hallucinations
Command hallucinations
Recovery and acceptance
Support systems
Reality and perception
Help-seeking
Stigma and violence
Selected Quotes
"Psychosis is a reality that no one else experiences."
"Recovery means acceptance and being the best person you are in the present."
"This is happening in the moment, and it will be over."
Transcript
Introducing Dr Genevieve McKenzie
Dr Oli: Welcome to Episode Six of Side Quest Stories: Psychosis in Their Own Words, a podcast where I ask every guest the same questions and don't intervene. Not because I agree with everything that's said, but because the aim is to understand how different people make sense of their experiences in their own terms. My role is to hold the conversation, not resolve or evaluate it.
How would you like to introduce yourself?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: Hi, I'm Dr Genevieve McKenzie.
This is my second time appearing on the stream, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the conversation unfolds.
Where Did Your Story With Psychosis Begin?
Dr Oli: Where does your story with psychosis begin?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: My story began with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Initially, I would hear music that wasn't actually present. Over time, those experiences evolved into auditory hallucinations.
Most often, they take the form of voices. Sometimes they are command hallucinations, while at other times they are simply background chatter.
There have also been periods where I experienced visual hallucinations and delusions alongside the voices.
The experiences have changed over time, but hallucinations have remained one of the central features of my psychosis.
What Is Psychosis To You?
Dr Oli: What is psychosis to you?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: Psychosis is a reality that no one else experiences.
Of course, everyone experiences reality subjectively to some extent, but psychosis goes beyond that.
It can feel as though you're living within an entirely different atmosphere—one that exists outside the reality being experienced by the people around you.
For me, that's what makes psychosis distinct.
It's not simply a different interpretation of reality. It's a reality that others cannot directly access or experience.
What Does Recovery Mean To You?
Dr Oli: What does recovery mean to you?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: Recovery means acceptance.
It means accepting yourself, accepting your circumstances, and focusing on being the best person you can be in the present moment.
Recovery isn't about becoming someone different.
It's about learning how to live with what you've experienced while continuing to move forward.
What Does Being Well Mean To You?
Dr Oli: What does being well mean to you?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: Being well also begins with acceptance.
It means having a support system around you.
It means having people you can rely on when things become difficult.
And it means achieving a sense of equilibrium more often than disequilibrium.
Life will always contain challenges, but wellness is about finding a degree of balance that allows you to navigate those challenges successfully.
What Do People Get Wrong About Psychosis?
Dr Oli: What do people get wrong about psychosis?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: One of the biggest misconceptions is the belief that psychosis is closely associated with violence.
While there are situations where violence can occur, I think those situations are often statistical anomalies rather than the norm.
Most often, psychosis is something that primarily affects the person experiencing it.
It's deeply personal.
The consequences are usually borne by the individual themselves rather than by the people around them.
I think public perceptions can sometimes exaggerate the connection between psychosis and violence, which contributes to stigma and misunderstanding.
What Advice Would You Give To Others?
Dr Oli: What advice do you have for others about psychosis?
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: My first piece of advice would be to seek medical help.
Whether psychosis appears in the context of a mental health condition, substance use, or any other cause, it's important to reach out for support.
If you're experiencing command hallucinations, I would especially encourage you to seek professional help as soon as possible.
I would also suggest keeping a journal.
Writing down hallucinations, delusions, and other experiences can help you track what's happening over time and identify patterns.
Most importantly, build a support system.
Reach out to people you trust and allow them to support you.
And try to accept what is happening in the moment.
That doesn't mean giving up or assuming things will never change.
It means recognising that this is something you're experiencing right now, and that it won't necessarily last forever.
Psychosis can pass.
Recovery is possible.
And you don't have to go through it alone.
Final Reflections
Dr Oli: That's a great note to end the episode on. Thank you so much.
Dr Genevieve McKenzie: No problem, Oli.
About Side Quest Stories
Side Quest Stories: Psychosis in Their Own Words is a series of conversations exploring lived experiences of psychosis, recovery, meaning, and mental health in participants' own words.
Across six interviews, participants describe very different journeys through psychosis, recovery, treatment, identity, and meaning-making. Together, these conversations highlight both the diversity of psychotic experiences and the shared human themes that often emerge alongside them: connection, understanding, resilience, and hope.
Thank you for reading Side Quest Stories: Psychosis in Their Own Words.
