Podcast Summary: She's So Lucky – Episode featuring Dr. Judith Joseph on High-Functioning Depression & Reclaiming Joy

Release Date: June 10, 2025

In this enriching episode of She’s So Lucky, host Les Alfred engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher, and author of the groundbreaking book High Functioning. The discussion delves deep into the nuanced understanding of high-functioning depression, its impact on women’s lives, and actionable strategies to reclaim joy.

1. Understanding High-Functioning Depression

Les Alfred opens the conversation by sharing her personal experiences with high-functioning depression, highlighting how individuals striving for their goals can silently battle unseen struggles. She introduces Dr. Judith Joseph, emphasizing the importance of recognizing high-functioning depression, a condition often overlooked in traditional medical frameworks.

Les [00:01]: "Sometimes when we are busy chasing our goals and creating our own luck, we can be more susceptible to quietly struggling with high-functioning depression that often goes undetected..."

Dr. Judith Joseph clarifies that high-functioning depression isn't officially recognized in medical literature yet but is a real and prevalent condition. It encompasses typical depressive symptoms like low mood, sleep disturbances, and anhedonia (the inability to feel joy), all while maintaining outward functionality.

Dr. Judith Joseph [04:16]: "High functioning depression happens when people experience symptoms of depression... but you're still functioning."

2. Redefining Depression Beyond Sadness

The conversation shifts to anhedonia, a central feature of high-functioning depression. Gabby Wendy shares her personal struggle with identifying sources of joy, illustrating how anhedonia can be misconstrued as just "feeling meh."

Gabby Wendy [08:52]: "What's bringing you joy? What's making you feel joyful? And I didn't have an answer."

Dr. Joseph emphasizes that depression doesn't always manifest as sadness. Anhedonia, the lack of joy, is a critical indicator that many overlook.

Dr. Judith Joseph [07:08]: "Many of us: feel meh, bleh, you know, things don't excite us anymore. But we don't think that that's a symptom of depression."

3. Reclaiming Joy: Practical Strategies

To combat anhedonia, Dr. Joseph suggests practical methods to reintroduce joy into one's life:

• Processing Trauma: Addressing unresolved pain and trauma to prevent emotional numbness.
• Reducing Screen Time: Limiting excessive use of devices to reconnect with basic joys like nature, food, and social interactions.
• Celebrating Wins: Taking time to honor achievements, even small ones, to shift focus from constant striving to appreciating accomplishments.

Dr. Judith Joseph [10:32]: "Adults who were on their devices... when you took those devices away from them for two weeks, it was almost as if you were treating them with an antidepressant because their joy points went up."

Gabby Wendy resonates with these strategies, recognizing the importance of breaking down joy into manageable, everyday actions rather than seeking grand, unattainable moments of happiness.

Gabby Wendy [17:07]: "Breaking it down into those little bite-sized pieces feels a lot more doable."

4. The Science Behind High-Functioning Depression

Dr. Joseph delves into the neurological aspects, explaining how chronic stress and lack of joy points affect brain connectivity. She highlights the limitations of traditional depression treatments that focus solely on neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Dr. Judith Joseph [34:34]: "We know the brain needs to connect. ... We're now looking at things like gaba, glutamate, other receptors in the brain."

She advocates for a holistic approach that includes mindfulness, meditation, and other activities that promote brain connectivity and overall mental health.

5. High-Functioning Depression Across the Lifespan

The discussion expands to how high-functioning depression intersects with various life stages, particularly focusing on women’s unique experiences:

• Postpartum Depression: Differentiated by hormonal changes leading to increased anxiety alongside depression.

  Dr. Judith Joseph [36:45]: "Depression and anxiety travel together, especially in postpartum brains."

• Perimenopause and Menopause: Addressed as periods of significant hormonal fluctuations that influence mental health. Dr. Joseph emphasizes the need for early preparation and targeted strategies to manage symptoms, especially in Black women who may experience more severe and prolonged symptoms.

  Dr. Judith Joseph [40:15]: "In black women, we go through perimenopause and menopause sooner, longer, with more severe symptoms."

6. Building and Leveraging Community Support

A pivotal part of the conversation revolves around the importance of community and support networks in managing high-functioning depression. Dr. Joseph encourages reaching out to true communities—supportive, non-competitive groups—highlighting how historical and cultural bonds in underserved communities foster resilience.

Dr. Judith Joseph [48:22]: "You have to build the true community that you want, and then you'll never feel unsafe."

Gabby Wendy echoes this sentiment, sharing her experiences as a first-generation professional and the challenges of seeking support while being perceived as self-sufficient.

7. Introducing Dr. Judith Joseph’s Book: "High Functioning"

Concluding the episode, Dr. Joseph discusses her motivation behind writing High Functioning. She aimed to provide a resource for those who cannot immediately access professional help, offering psychoeducation as a tool to reduce uncertainty and empower individuals to understand and manage their mental health proactively.

Dr. Judith Joseph [53:07]: "Psychoeducation is giving yourself the gift of knowledge... to have less uncertainty."

Gabby Wendy shares her appreciation for the book, noting how it validated her experiences and became a valuable resource in her therapeutic journey.

Gabby Wendy [54:49]: "Now I understand why this is happening. So for those of us who are feeling that way, what are some things we can start doing to reclaim those feelings of joy?"

Key Takeaways

• High-Functioning Depression: Recognizes depressive symptoms without the overt signs of incapacitation, allowing individuals to maintain daily functions.

• Anhedonia: A critical yet often overlooked symptom of depression, characterized by a lack of joy and inability to feel pleasure.

• Holistic Approaches: Emphasizes the importance of processing trauma, reducing screen time, celebrating small wins, and fostering brain connectivity through mindfulness and other practices.

• Lifespan Considerations: Highlights how different life stages, such as postpartum and perimenopause, uniquely impact mental health, necessitating tailored strategies.

• Community Support: Stresses building genuine, supportive communities as a cornerstone for mental well-being, especially in historically underserved populations.

• Psychoeducation: Advocates for self-education as a preliminary step to therapy, empowering individuals with knowledge about their mental health conditions.

Resources Mentioned:

• High Functioning by Dr. Judith Joseph
• Dr. Judith Joseph’s website: drjudithjoseph.com

This episode of She’s So Lucky offers a compassionate and insightful exploration of high-functioning depression, providing listeners with both understanding and practical tools to navigate their journey towards reclaiming joy.