Anxiety Rx
115. Understanding High-Functioning Depression: The Hidden Struggles of Overachievers
07 Apr 2025
Hey friends!In this episode of Anxiety Rx, I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Judith Joseph—a psychiatrist who took an unexpected detour from anesthesiology to psychiatry after realizing she was personally numbing more than just patients. Turns out, she was dealing with high-functioning depression. We dive deep into what high-functioning depression actually looks like (hint: it’s not just sadness in a power suit), how childhood experiences sneak into adulthood, and why self-compassion isn’t just a fluffy buzzword—it’s a game-changer. Dr. Joseph gets real about her own journey, shares insights from her therapy practice, and reminds us all to slow down and actually feel our emotions (yes, even the uncomfortable ones). We also tackle societal pressures, the sneaky ways childhood trauma shapes our adult brains, and get a sneak peek at Dr. Joseph’s upcoming book, High Functioning—a much-needed guide to understanding happiness and mental health without the fluff. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing fine” on the outside but struggling beneath the surface, this one’s for you. Tune in for wisdom, warmth, and a few aha moments along the way!Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below:https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRXTo pre-order Dr. Judith's book "High Functioning" click the link below:https://drjudithjoseph.com/book-preorder/ ____________________________TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to Anxiety and Psychiatry 02:38 High Functioning Depression: Understanding the Symptoms 05:40 The Importance of Slowing Down 09:46 Trauma and Its Impact on Mental Health 15:04 Masochism and People-Pleasing in Mental Health 19:50 The Role of Relationships in Self-Love 25:05 The Science of Happiness and Mental Health
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other recent transcribed episodes
Transcribed and ready to explore now
#2425 - Ethan Hawke
11 Dec 2025
The Joe Rogan Experience
SpaceX Said to Pursue 2026 IPO
10 Dec 2025
Bloomberg Tech
Don’t Call It a Comeback
10 Dec 2025
Motley Fool Money
Japan Claims AGI, Pentagon Adopts Gemini, and MIT Designs New Medicines
10 Dec 2025
The Daily AI Show
Eric Larsen on the emergence and potential of AI in healthcare
10 Dec 2025
McKinsey on Healthcare
What it will take for AI to scale (energy, compute, talent)
10 Dec 2025
Azeem Azhar's Exponential View