Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Dr. Judith Joseph on The Hidden Epidemic of High-Functioning Depression | EP 616
Tue, 27 May 2025
In this powerful Passion Struck episode, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Judith Joseph—board-certified psychiatrist, clinical researcher, and author of High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy. Together, they unpack the silent struggle of individuals who appear to “have it all together” while suffering emotionally beneath the surface.Dr. Judith opens up about her own moment of clarity during a pandemic-era talk, where she realized that despite her career achievements and public appearances, she was silently battling depression. This personal revelation inspired her pioneering research into high-functioning depression—a condition not yet formally recognized in the DSM-5 but experienced by millions.could actually fit into your modern routine, this episode is both grounding and uplifting.Click HERE for the full show notesExplore More: The Ignited Life NewsletterIf today’s episode sparked something in you, you’ll love The Ignited Life—our free Substack newsletter created to fuel your growth between episodes.👉 Subscribe now at TheIgnitedLife.net.Together, John and Judith explore:The difference between burnout and high-functioning depressionThe role of avoidance and scarcity trauma in over-functioning behaviorHow societal pressure leads to performance-based identity and joy depletionThe neuroscience of joy and emotional numbing (anhedonia)Dr. Judith’s 5 Vs Framework: Validation, Venting, Values, Vitals, and VisionCatch more of Dr. Judith Joseph: https://drjudithjoseph.com/about/If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.How to Connect with John:Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMilesFollow him on Instagram at @John_R_MilesSubscribe to our main YouTube Channel and to our YouTube Clips ChannelFor more insights and resources, visit John’s websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What is high-functioning depression?
You can buy my book, High Functioning, everywhere that books are sold. I'm so excited about spreading joy and having people understand the science of happiness, understand the science of your happiness, because there is only one you. So please take care of yourself.
Well, thank you so much for putting this out in the world, because for me, it was an opportunity to do self introspection of what happened in my own life and in my own journey and to help understand for myself how I can help listeners and others cope with not becoming a high functioning, depressive person. So thank you so much.
Oh, it was my pleasure. I enjoyed speaking with you. Thank you for having me.
And that's a wrap. What an enlightening and deeply human conversation with Dr. Judith Joseph. Her pioneering work on high-functioning depression shines a light on a silent epidemic, one that so many high-performance caregivers and outwardly successful people are quietly battling every day.
To you, this story is a powerful reminder that just because someone looks like they're thriving on the outside, it doesn't mean they're not hurting inside. And our 5Vs framework gives us the language and tools to recognize the signs, honor the struggle, and start building a life rooted in authentic joy, not just performance.
So as you reflect on today's episode, ask yourself, where in your life are you high functioning, but emotionally depleted? Are you confusing productivity with purpose? And what would it look like to prioritize joy, not just achievement? If this episode moves you, please take 10 seconds to leave a five-star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform.
It helps us continue bringing you powerful conversations like this one. And if someone in your life could benefit from Judith's insights, share this episode. It might be exactly what they need to hear. For all the resources we discussed, including Judith's book, High Functioning, head over to the show notes at passionstruck.com.
And if this message of intentional living and mental wellness resonates with you, I'd love to bring it to your organization or event. I'm booking keynotes and workshops for 2025 and 2026. Visit johnrmiles.com to learn more about how we can partner to spark transformation.
Don't forget, subscribe to our sub stack, The Ignited Life at theignitedlife.net, where you can also join the ignition room for deeper community and accountability and watch the full episodes and exclusive content on our YouTube channels.
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