Episode Details

If we're wired for joy, why do so many successful people feel exhausted, disconnected, or emotionally flat?

On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with psychiatrist, researcher, and author Dr. Judith Joseph, whose team conducted the first peer-reviewed clinical study on high-functioning depression. We talk about why feeling "fine" on the outside doesn't always reflect what's happening beneath the surface—and why so many people struggle to feel fully alive.

You’ll learn:

• Why achievement and productivity don't always lead to fulfillment

• How to tell whether you're burned out—or struggling with high-functioning depression

• The surprising connection between unresolved trauma, people-pleasing, and chronic stress

• What your phone, social media habits, and screen time may be doing to your mood

• How to start reclaiming joy when life feels flat, exhausting, or unfulfilling

Like many people, I've spent periods of my life focused on achievement and productivity, believing fulfillment would follow. I've learned that the most important work isn't always doing more—it's understanding what's keeping us from fully experiencing joy in the first place.

Want to explore this further? Dr. Judith Joseph offers several self-assessments under the "Quiz" tab on her website, including tools for anhedonia, high-functioning depression, and trauma.

View Show Notes From This Episode

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