The High Performance Podcast How to Spot and Solve Hidden Depression, with Dr Judith Joseph
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Oct 8, 2025 
Dr. Judith Joseph, a clinical psychiatrist and bestselling author, specializes in high-functioning depression. In this conversation, she highlights that achievement can mask profound internal struggles. Judith introduces her Five V's framework—Validation, Venting, Values, Vitals, and Vision—as practical tools to rediscover joy. They discuss how to recognize anhedonia, the loss of pleasure, and the importance of reconnecting with genuine values. The episode also emphasizes the significance of small rituals to safeguard moments of joy and enhance overall well-being.
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Hidden Depression Can Be Joyless Functioning
- Anhedonia is the clinical term for feeling flat, joyless, or uninterested despite functioning externally.
- Judith Joseph highlights that many people don't recognise this as a sign of depression.
Productivity Can Mask Suffering
- High achievers often feel guilty for not enjoying success and mistake productivity for wellness.
- Judith Joseph calls this 'pathological productivity' that masks underlying anhedonia.
Start By Validating Your Feelings
- Validate your feelings by 'turning the light on' and noticing emotions rather than suppressing them.
- Accepting tiredness or flatness in small steps reduces fear and enables honest action.