The Mel Robbins Podcast

#1 Researcher: 7 Signs You May Have High Functioning Depression

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In today’s episode, you’re going to learn about something important and rarely discussed that specifically impacts busy people and high achievers. Just ask yourself: - Do you just have coffee for breakfast, because a real meal would slow you down? - Do you eat lunch while you work, instead of taking a break? - Do you mindlessly scroll before going to bed because your mind is too busy? - Do you take on extra work because you think, “I’m the only one who can do this, right?” - Are you always there for others but don’t take care of yourself? These are some of the signs of high-functioning depression you should not ignore. Joining Mel today is the world’s leading expert and researcher on this topic, Dr. Judith Joseph, MD. (@drjudithjoseph ) Today, Dr. Joseph is here to share her groundbreaking research on this important subject and exactly what to do to feel more energized, excited, joyful, and present in your life again. Dr. Joseph is a renowned double-board-certified psychiatrist who trained at and is affiliated with Columbia University and New York University. She is also a pioneering researcher and the founder and principal investigator of her research institute, Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, where she has conducted over 60 clinical research trials with her all-female medical team, which focus on high-functioning conditions, including high-functioning depression. This episode is for all the busy people who keep it all together, the moms on the move, and the overachievers at work. You’ll be surprised, moved, and feel a sense of relief and peace after today’s episode. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: http://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-169 Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:03: The 7 surprising symptoms of high functioning depression. 06:19: The surprising truth about medical research. 07:02: How depression shows up differently for men. 08:23: What happened to Mel’s husband, Chris when he was struggling. 09:58: What is high functioning depression? 12:33: What a “day in the life” of someone with high functioning depression looks like. 14:18: What makes high functioning depression different from low functioning depression? 16:37: What depression looks like in 2024. 18:05: Watch out for this sneaky symptom of depression. 20:20: What is happening in the brain and body when you have high functioning depression. 23:34: If you feel diminishing joy and don’t want to seek medical help, here’s what you can do. 25:31: Do you take on extra work because you think, “I’m the only one who can do this, right?” 27:48: What is the biopsychosocial model and how Dr. Judith uses it in her practice. 29:49: If you feel like a burden to your friends and family, listen to this. 31:56: What scarcity trauma is and how it shows up in your life. 36:18: Do you feel like you can’t waste any food…ever? 40:12: How affect labeling can free you of your problems. 44:24: The information on menopause that needs to be talked about. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel RobbinshostDr. Judithguest

May 1, 202449mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Hidden epidemic: Understanding and treating high-functioning depression in achievers

Mel Robbins interviews psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Judith Joseph about high-functioning depression, a form of depression affecting people who appear successful, productive, and “fine” on the outside but feel emotionally flat and joyless inside. Dr. Joseph explains how current diagnostic systems often miss these people because they are still performing at a high level and don’t fit classic depression stereotypes. They explore symptoms like anhedonia (loss of pleasure), over-busyness, doom-scrolling, and self-gaslighting, along with contributing factors such as trauma, genetics, inflammation, and societal pressures. The conversation also touches on scarcity trauma, the importance of naming experiences (affect labeling), and emerging research on women, menopause, and mental health.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

You can be highly productive and still be clinically depressed.

High-functioning depression affects people who meet responsibilities and appear successful but feel numb, joyless, or “off” inside; because they’re still functioning, doctors and even they themselves often dismiss it.

Loss of joy (anhedonia) is a key red flag to notice early.

When hobbies, food, relationships, or everyday moments that once felt pleasurable now feel “meh,” that flattening of emotion is a sneaky but highly correlated symptom of depression, especially in high-functioning people.

Over-busyness can be a coping mechanism, not just a lifestyle.

Many high achievers cope with emotional pain by constantly working, caretaking, and multitasking so they never have to feel or process their experiences, which can delay help until a crisis hits.

Naming what you’re experiencing reduces fear and opens the door to change.

Through affect labeling—accurately naming feelings or patterns like ‘high-functioning depression’ or ‘scarcity trauma’—you move issues from the subconscious into awareness, which calms the nervous system and makes them more manageable.

Scarcity trauma can silently drive hoarding, over-saving, or over-spending.

Histories of financial insecurity, war, immigration, or family scarcity can lead to behaviors like never throwing things out, not wearing new clothes, or compulsive spending, all rooted in an unconscious fear of losing everything again.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

People cope with their depression by busying themselves, because that's the only way they know.

— Dr. Judith Joseph

They don't feel what they're feeling, so they end up feeling very little.

— Dr. Judith Joseph

Anhedonia is a sneaky symptom of depression. It's a joy thief. It comes in the middle of the night and steals your joy.

— Dr. Judith Joseph

You're not letting anyone down, but you're letting yourself down.

— Dr. Judith Joseph

Stop outworking it. Stop outrunning it. Just because you’re getting through the day doesn’t mean that’s the way to live.

— Mel Robbins

Definition and characteristics of high-functioning depressionWhy traditional diagnostic criteria (DSM-5) miss many depressed high achieversAnhedonia as a “joy thief” and core symptom of modern depressionCoping through overwork, busyness, and avoidance of feelingsScarcity trauma and generational patterns around resources and emotionsBiological and social contributors: inflammation, genetics, trauma, and social mediaWomen’s mental health, menopause, and the need for inclusive research

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