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High Functioning

Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Judith Joseph

Formats and Prices

Price

$14.99

Price

$19.99 CAD

The first book to unmask the hidden face of depression. If you look fine on the outside but don't feel fine on the inside, learn five tools to break the cycle of High Functioning Depression and experience more joy in your life.

Many of us experience periods in our lives when something feels “off”: when we struggle to find joy in happy moments, and take little pleasure in things we used to enjoy. We might be motivated and productive at work, pulling our weight at home, and conducting a normal social life—but behind that façade we are barely surviving, and certainly not thriving.

We're all familiar with what depression can look like, but there's another, lesser‑known face to this illness. High functioning depression (HFD) doesn't conform to the image of depression that typically comes to mind. As a result, people with HFD often have no idea why they are suffering, or what to do about it.

In High Functioning, Dr. Judith Joseph reveals that what we’re feeling is not simply “negativity” or stress. Drawing on original research, client cases, and her personal experience with HFD, Dr. Judith radically shifts the way those of us with HFD see ourselves, and empowers us with five simple tools to reclaim our lives from this widespread yet poorly understood condition.
 
 By following her 5 V's – validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals – we can wake up happier, find more satisfaction in our relationships, and feel better in the present while also looking forward to the future.

 

  • "Dr. Judith Joseph offers a framework for what so many are feeling and just assume is “life.” She addresses the patterns we often miss because of the oft-mistaken belief that if am getting stuff done, then I am ok, and offers actionable and customizable guidance that can remind everyone to slow down, listen to themselves, and care for themselves.  In a world where “busy” is too often a virtue, and we second-guess and devalue ourselves when we are struggling, Dr. Joseph opens us to a different way of thinking." 
    -Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist, and New York Times Bestselling author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People
  • "If you’ve ever found yourself feeling “off” without being able to put your finger on why, or if you’re constantly busy but don’t find yourself fulfilled, you’re in the right place...This isn’t just a book. It’s a roadmap back to yourself"
    -Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory
  • “Dr. Judith Joseph’s groundbreaking work on high-functioning depression is both timely and a much needed topic that needs a wider spotlight. As the first to deeply study this often-overlooked facet of mental health, Dr. Joseph sheds light on a condition that affects countless individuals striving to maintain outward success while grappling with inner challenges. Her compassionate approach, rigorous research, and insightful analysis make this book a must-read for professionals, loved ones, and anyone seeking to better understand the hidden struggles of those around them.”
    -Paul C. Brunson, author of Keep Love

On Sale
Apr 8, 2025
Page Count
320 pages
Publisher
Little Brown Spark
ISBN-13
9780316577311

Judith Joseph

About the Author

Judith Joseph MD, MBA, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and researcher who specializes in mental health and trauma. She is the founder of and chief investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City’s premier clinical research site, a clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, and chairwoman of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

As one of social media’s favorite psychiatrists, Dr. Judith gets over 15 million views a month. Her Instagram, full of funny, role-playing videos and revealing insights, got more than 10 million impressions and her TikToks were viewed more than 5 million times just last month alone. She holds an undergraduate degree from Duke as well as a medical doctorate and master’s in business administration from Columbia.

Learn more about this author