Ambition 2.0 Why High-Functioning Depression Hits Ambitious Women the Hardest with Dr. Judith Joseph
In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Amanda sits down with board-certified psychiatrist, researcher, and viral mental health educator Dr. Judith Joseph, MD, MBA, to talk about a form of depression that often flies under the radar: high-functioning depression.
If you’re the one who “has it together” (the dependable friend, the rock at work, the caregiver who never drops the ball), but feel numb, exhausted, or joyless inside, this conversation is going to hit uncomfortably close to home (in the best way).
Dr. Judith breaks down:
- Why so many high-achieving, caregiving women are especially vulnerable
- The science-backed difference between happiness (external, elusive) and joy (internal, accessible)
- Her framework of the five V’s of healing: validation, venting, values, vitals, and vision
- How people-pleasing and masochistic traits keep you stuck
- The surprising ways trauma, divorce, and “smaller” emotional wounds shape our ambition and burnout
- Why anhedonia (a loss of joy) is a red flag
- How PMDD, postpartum, and perimenopause can amplify everything
They also get into practical tools: how to set limits with toxic people you can’t fully cut them off, how to support a friend with high-functioning depression without shaming them, and why scheduling joy is needed.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m functioning… but I’m not okay,” this episode will help you name it, understand it, and start to change it.
00:00 Intro
01:39 Judith’s story of realizing she was depressed
03:19 Why high-achieving, caregiving women are vulnerable to high-functioning depression
04:41 The difference between happiness and joy
08:30 The five V’s of healing
11:06 What masochism really means, how it became “people-pleasing,” and why women self-sacrifice
19:27 Venting vs trauma dumping
24:16 How Dr. Judith reclaimed joy through play
33:08 How to support a friend with high-functioning depression
GUEST LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjudithjoseph/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjudithjoseph
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmHQJaOerTsZJfOtiYz4sOg
Read High Functioning: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780316577298
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ABOUT AMBITION 2.0
Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.
DISCLAIMER
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