Episode #78: Understanding High Functioning Depression with Dr. Judith Joseph

Dr. Judith Joseph MD, MBA is a world-renowned, board-certified psychiatrist and researcher specializing in mental health and trauma. She is the founder and chief investigator at New York City’s premier clinical research base, Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University, and chair of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University. 

 

Judith conducted the world’s first peer-reviewed clinical research study on high functioning depression in her laboratories. She recently published her instant national bestselling book based on her findings from this study, High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (2025). She has become the world’s leading voice on high functioning depression.

 

Judith received a 2023 Congressional Proclamation from the US house of representatives for her social media advocacy and research in mental health. She has received several awards, including Share Care Awards in 2020 and 2023 for her MedCircle series on PTSD and a Good Morning America investigative special on ADHD. In 2025, Judith was featured as a

Mental Health Thought Leader on CNN’s Game Changers series. She has written for or been quoted in media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post and Forbes, and has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Oprah Daily and more. 

 

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Links:

• Website
• NYU webpage
• Book: High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (Penguin Random House, 2025)
• Podcast: The Vault with Dr. Judith
• High Functioning Depression and Anhedonia quizzes
• Psychology Today page
• Google Scholar
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• TikTok
• Facebook

 

 

Timestamps:

 

[00:02:19] Understanding high functioning depression.

[00:09:06] High functioning depression explained.

[00:14:05] Anhedonia and trauma connection.

[00:19:28] Pathologically productive behaviors.

[00:20:44] Joy and technology's impact.

[00:25:17] Joy vs. pleasure in happiness.

[00:28:46] The hedonic treadmill explained.

[00:32:45] Awareness of anhedonia in therapy.

[00:35:43] Role of gratitude in healing.

[00:39:49] Gratitude practices for mental health.

[00:42:39] Tapping into your values.

[00:45:38] Overcoming hidden depression.