Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Dr. Judith Joseph on The Hidden Epidemic of High-Functioning Depression | EP 616
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.
Full Episode
Coming up next on Passion Struck.
What I found is that when you see people who are over-functioning, a lot of times it's not just them. It has been contagious. It spreads to their families. It spreads to their team. It spreads even to their pets, right? Everyone's not happy. There's a lack of joy. The anhedonia spreads to the ecosystem.
But if you can retrain yourself and start to engage in being present, slowing down and accessing life the way you should, then that spreads as well. So you can actually reverse things if you're mindful and intentional about it.
welcome to passion struck hi i'm your host john r miles and on the show we decipher the secrets tips and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the best version of yourself if you're new to the show i offer advice and answer listener questions on fridays
We have long form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes. Now let's go out there and become passion struck. Welcome to episode 616 of the passion struck podcast.
I'm John Miles, and I'm so grateful you're here investing in your growth, your healing, and your pursuit of a life that truly matters. In case you missed it, last week we had two incredibly resonant conversations. On Tuesday, number one New York Times bestselling author Joseph Wynn helped us explore how to untangle the limiting thoughts that keep us stuck.
And then on Thursday, Janet Edley joined us to share powerful wisdom on resilience, surrender, and using music as a path to inner peace. If you missed either one, I highly recommend going back to experience the death that they both brought. And in my most recent solo episode, number 615, we zoomed out to look at the mental health ecosystem.
The idea that thriving isn't just about what's in your head, but the people, places, and systems that support or sabotage your wellbeing. That concept leads us directly into today's conversation.
because today we're tackling a condition that hides beneath high achievement and silent suffering, high functioning depression, with someone who's leading the charge to name it, understand it, and transform how we respond to it. I'm joined by Dr. Judith Joseph, a board certified psychiatrist, clinical researcher, founder of Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, and clinical assistant professor at NYU.
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