What do you think?
Rate this book
High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy
Many of us experience periods in our lives when something feels “off”: when we struggle to find joy in happy moments, feel pessimistic about the future, and take little pleasure in things we used to enjoy. On the surface, we might be good at pretending we're doing fine—we are 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 someone who is deeply sad and finds it hard to get out of bed in the morning. 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 radically shifts the way those of us with HFD see ourselves, revealing 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 empowers readers with five simple tools to reclaim their lives from this poorly understood condition. By following her Her 5 V's - validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals - we can wake up happier, become more satisfied in our relationships, and regain joy in the present while looking forward to tomorrow.
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 someone who is deeply sad and finds it hard to get out of bed in the morning. 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 radically shifts the way those of us with HFD see ourselves, revealing 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 empowers readers with five simple tools to reclaim their lives from this poorly understood condition. By following her Her 5 V's - validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals - we can wake up happier, become more satisfied in our relationships, and regain joy in the present while looking forward to tomorrow.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published April 8, 2025
392 people are currently reading
4764 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
April 6, 2025
⭐⭐ 2 Stars
I was intrigued and felt this book had promise when I first started it. The idea of high-functioning depression is not a new one - I believe in the past more referred to as a categorisation of the effect of symptoms of depression - but this book explores it as if it's it's own diagnosis - one with symptoms of both depression, and work-triggered-burnout. Like a lot of books around burnout, it is heavily focused around work behaviour, which i personally feel is a disservice, as I believe a lot of people feel this way despite not working ridiculous hours in high-stress jobs.
Perhaps I am too deep in the world of psychology and self-help, but this book didn't feel groundbreaking to me. The information to help cure your high-functioning depression was the same as much of any self help book, just delivered slightly differently.
I appreciate most different self-help books despite similar content, as sometimes it takes the right one for the right person to get the message. However this one didn't hit any targets for me.
The steps and advice throughout the book are also not very neurodivergent friendly.
Overall, I would not recommend, and would point the average person to some other books before suggesting high functioning.
One thing to say, is that the audiobook being recorded by the author is an excellent choice. I appreciated the passion shares through her anecdotes.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was intrigued and felt this book had promise when I first started it. The idea of high-functioning depression is not a new one - I believe in the past more referred to as a categorisation of the effect of symptoms of depression - but this book explores it as if it's it's own diagnosis - one with symptoms of both depression, and work-triggered-burnout. Like a lot of books around burnout, it is heavily focused around work behaviour, which i personally feel is a disservice, as I believe a lot of people feel this way despite not working ridiculous hours in high-stress jobs.
Perhaps I am too deep in the world of psychology and self-help, but this book didn't feel groundbreaking to me. The information to help cure your high-functioning depression was the same as much of any self help book, just delivered slightly differently.
I appreciate most different self-help books despite similar content, as sometimes it takes the right one for the right person to get the message. However this one didn't hit any targets for me.
The steps and advice throughout the book are also not very neurodivergent friendly.
Overall, I would not recommend, and would point the average person to some other books before suggesting high functioning.
One thing to say, is that the audiobook being recorded by the author is an excellent choice. I appreciated the passion shares through her anecdotes.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 2, 2025
I think the interesting part of depression is that sometimes rather than being frozen, sullen, or unable to do tasks we overcompensate and do too much. This book helped me identify things that are associated with high functioning depression: taking on too many tasks, not allowing yourself to feel emotions, anhedonia, etc. I really enjoyed how client experiences were brought in to explain different symptoms and the way HFD can present. In the later part of the book, we are introduced with different ways to combat HFD. I found the different suggestions were helpful, and not repetitive information that I’ve read elsewhere. I’ve already recommended it to a few friends.
Thank you Net Galley & Hackett Audio for a copy of this book.
Thank you Net Galley & Hackett Audio for a copy of this book.
May 3, 2025
The same old stuff packaged in an ableist light. I expected more out of this author.
June 17, 2025
I needed this book and I think everyone I know does, too. We're out here struggling while appearing successful and delaying joy to accumulate more accolades with the promise of "soon." Grateful to have found this now, just as I'm trying to figure out what's next.
April 8, 2025
You can get out of bed, but you don’t have the motivation to wash the dishes. You can go to social functions, but you have difficulty concentrating on conversations due to brain dog. You’re productive at work, but you’re burned out and have a hard time saying “no.” On the outside, everything may look fine. But on the inside, you’re drowning — or just apathetic.
HIGH FUNCTIONING by Dr. Judith Joseph looks at the often-hidden high-functioning depression and gives readers the tools they need to reignite the spark of joy and live in the present.
I listened to HIGH FUNCTIONING on audiobook, and it kept me engaged until the very end. Dr. Joseph does a great job explaining what HFD looks and feels like, using human examples/anecdotes, and providing useful tools to live a happier, more fulfilled life. I plan on purchasing a physical copy for highlighting and tabbing pages.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Little Brown Spark/Hachette Audio for an advanced audio copy of #HighFunctioning.
HIGH FUNCTIONING by Dr. Judith Joseph looks at the often-hidden high-functioning depression and gives readers the tools they need to reignite the spark of joy and live in the present.
I listened to HIGH FUNCTIONING on audiobook, and it kept me engaged until the very end. Dr. Joseph does a great job explaining what HFD looks and feels like, using human examples/anecdotes, and providing useful tools to live a happier, more fulfilled life. I plan on purchasing a physical copy for highlighting and tabbing pages.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Little Brown Spark/Hachette Audio for an advanced audio copy of #HighFunctioning.
July 30, 2025
A Thoughtful Primer—But Not Much More
Dr. Judith Joseph does a brilliant job articulating the concept of high-functioning depression—emphasizing not that it was discovered recently, but rather that we’ve finally begun to understand and acknowledge it in more nuanced ways. Her voice is compassionate, clear, and deeply affirming for those who may see their own silent struggles reflected in these pages.
The book is good. Solid. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a well-structured, contemporary self-help guide on mental health. But perhaps that’s also the issue—for readers like myself, who’ve grown up in an era where mental health conversations are no longer whispered behind closed doors but spoken freely among friends, peers, and digital communities, much of the content doesn’t feel particularly novel. If anything, it reads like a thoughtful synthesis of ideas already made accessible through Oprah’s television segments, countless podcast episodes, and bite-sized social media explainers. Revolutionary in the ’90s or early 2000s? Absolutely. In 2025? Less so.
That said, this book isn’t trying to be a groundbreaking academic text—and that’s important to acknowledge. It’s written for the reader who is just beginning to name what they’re feeling, who needs a starting point rather than a masterclass. In that light, it succeeds. Still, I found myself wishing for more: more nuance, more depth, and more tools not just for self-reflection, but for communal care. A chapter on how to support someone with high-functioning depression would’ve been especially enriching—how to love them, hold space for them, and notice what they may not say.
At its core, this is a classic self-help book with a mindfulness twist. There’s comfort in that. But in an age where a well-curated TikTok feed or a five-minute YouTube video can deliver similar insights, it’s hard not to feel that the book occasionally falls behind the pace of public knowledge. That’s not a fault of the author, necessarily—but it does reflect the challenges of publishing in a world where information is both immediate and abundant.
In short: this is a well-written, warm introduction. Just don’t come expecting revelations—come for recognition.
Dr. Judith Joseph does a brilliant job articulating the concept of high-functioning depression—emphasizing not that it was discovered recently, but rather that we’ve finally begun to understand and acknowledge it in more nuanced ways. Her voice is compassionate, clear, and deeply affirming for those who may see their own silent struggles reflected in these pages.
The book is good. Solid. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a well-structured, contemporary self-help guide on mental health. But perhaps that’s also the issue—for readers like myself, who’ve grown up in an era where mental health conversations are no longer whispered behind closed doors but spoken freely among friends, peers, and digital communities, much of the content doesn’t feel particularly novel. If anything, it reads like a thoughtful synthesis of ideas already made accessible through Oprah’s television segments, countless podcast episodes, and bite-sized social media explainers. Revolutionary in the ’90s or early 2000s? Absolutely. In 2025? Less so.
That said, this book isn’t trying to be a groundbreaking academic text—and that’s important to acknowledge. It’s written for the reader who is just beginning to name what they’re feeling, who needs a starting point rather than a masterclass. In that light, it succeeds. Still, I found myself wishing for more: more nuance, more depth, and more tools not just for self-reflection, but for communal care. A chapter on how to support someone with high-functioning depression would’ve been especially enriching—how to love them, hold space for them, and notice what they may not say.
At its core, this is a classic self-help book with a mindfulness twist. There’s comfort in that. But in an age where a well-curated TikTok feed or a five-minute YouTube video can deliver similar insights, it’s hard not to feel that the book occasionally falls behind the pace of public knowledge. That’s not a fault of the author, necessarily—but it does reflect the challenges of publishing in a world where information is both immediate and abundant.
In short: this is a well-written, warm introduction. Just don’t come expecting revelations—come for recognition.
May 4, 2025
Book Review: High Functioning by Dr. Judith Joseph
I didn’t know I needed this book until I was a few pages in and found myself both comforted and convicted.
High Functioning isn’t just for the person quietly carrying the weight of the world with a smile—it’s for anyone who loves someone like that, too. While I personally didn’t feel entirely “called out,” the chapter about the trauma of working under a demanding boss? That hit close to home. More importantly, I saw someone I love on every page, and that made me pay attention.
Dr. Judith Joseph writes like the therapist-friend we all wish we had—gentle but honest, warm yet informed. The tone is modern, relatable, and refreshingly free of clinical jargon. She has a gift for making complex emotional struggles feel both valid and solvable.
This book doesn’t just raise awareness around high functioning depression, there are plenty of solutions and strategies. It’s part mirror, part map. There’s education, yes, but also a way forward. Expect a bit of tough love, but always from a place of compassion.
If you or someone you care about is “doing fine” on the outside but struggling underneath, High Functioning might be the most important book you read this year.
Highly recommend.
I didn’t know I needed this book until I was a few pages in and found myself both comforted and convicted.
High Functioning isn’t just for the person quietly carrying the weight of the world with a smile—it’s for anyone who loves someone like that, too. While I personally didn’t feel entirely “called out,” the chapter about the trauma of working under a demanding boss? That hit close to home. More importantly, I saw someone I love on every page, and that made me pay attention.
Dr. Judith Joseph writes like the therapist-friend we all wish we had—gentle but honest, warm yet informed. The tone is modern, relatable, and refreshingly free of clinical jargon. She has a gift for making complex emotional struggles feel both valid and solvable.
This book doesn’t just raise awareness around high functioning depression, there are plenty of solutions and strategies. It’s part mirror, part map. There’s education, yes, but also a way forward. Expect a bit of tough love, but always from a place of compassion.
If you or someone you care about is “doing fine” on the outside but struggling underneath, High Functioning might be the most important book you read this year.
Highly recommend.
September 26, 2025
This was a great look into another side of having depression. The side of depression where you are still functioning at a high despite the toll it is taking on you in a variety of ways. The author, Dr. Judith Joseph, provides a set of tools to help with HFD (high functioning depression). Joseph calls these the five V’s- validation, venting, values, venting and vision. With each of these tools you evaluate, process and move forward in understanding your HFD. I enjoyed learning about these five V’s and think they are fantastic tools. I also love learning about new concepts like anhedonia which is an inability to find joy and pleasure.
July 31, 2025
Heard about this on a podcast a while ago and the hold finally came through. Some parts more helpful than others (like the new stuff vs listing kinds of therapy options.. but like i get everyone starts somewhere), but i think hearing more about how masochism and a lack of joy can fester in high achievers was really necessary for me. Anyway here’s a random collection of thoughts and quotes:
One of the lesser known symptoms of trauma is putting yourself into risky situations to trick your brain into thinking you have a sense of control over danger
Anhedonia - i think this is such an important word and i don’t want to gatekeep it but i fear it getting as commodified as imposter syndrome (maybe that’s a bad take???)
Apparently therapists aren’t supposed to use masochism in therapy (as defined In dsm3: Pervasive pattern of self defeating, people pleasing behavior)
Think about a potential problematic attachment styles: Being drawn to avoidant men, gives you a perpetual project to work on thinking you can win them over
HFD can mean you don’t sufficiently value your feelings, important for you to focus on them primarily, then let everything flow from there
Validation types: Self validation, Watch someone else experience something similar to you - find a movie w themes of your life
Verbal validation; Factual validation - like abnormal bloodwork (SHINGLES)
Keeping things from a therapist sucks!!! Stop being a masochist and let it out
Full fed and content??? Have i ever???
What joy did i have as a child? Try to remind self by something i ate, listen to music from then etc.
Vision is your ability to recognize wins, plan ways to celebrate them, the take the time to actually follow through on those plans
Why should we feel less than for not completing a goal that wasn’t even our own
Celebrating is what happens when you compete with yourself and win
You need to schedule time to dwell in happy moments, …you have to schedule in satisfaction the same way you’ve been scheduling in success
One of the lesser known symptoms of trauma is putting yourself into risky situations to trick your brain into thinking you have a sense of control over danger
Anhedonia - i think this is such an important word and i don’t want to gatekeep it but i fear it getting as commodified as imposter syndrome (maybe that’s a bad take???)
Apparently therapists aren’t supposed to use masochism in therapy (as defined In dsm3: Pervasive pattern of self defeating, people pleasing behavior)
Think about a potential problematic attachment styles: Being drawn to avoidant men, gives you a perpetual project to work on thinking you can win them over
HFD can mean you don’t sufficiently value your feelings, important for you to focus on them primarily, then let everything flow from there
Validation types: Self validation, Watch someone else experience something similar to you - find a movie w themes of your life
Verbal validation; Factual validation - like abnormal bloodwork (SHINGLES)
Keeping things from a therapist sucks!!! Stop being a masochist and let it out
Full fed and content??? Have i ever???
What joy did i have as a child? Try to remind self by something i ate, listen to music from then etc.
Vision is your ability to recognize wins, plan ways to celebrate them, the take the time to actually follow through on those plans
Why should we feel less than for not completing a goal that wasn’t even our own
Celebrating is what happens when you compete with yourself and win
You need to schedule time to dwell in happy moments, …you have to schedule in satisfaction the same way you’ve been scheduling in success
August 12, 2025
In “High Functioning,” Dr. Judith Joseph offers a compassionate and clarifying look at a struggle many live with, but few name: the quiet exhaustion and emotional disconnection that can hide behind outward success. Rather than framing high-functioning depression as something to “fix” through sheer willpower, she invites us to meet it with honesty, gentleness, and structure, reclaiming our well-being step by step.
Central to the book is her Five V’s framework: Validation, Venting, Values, Vitals, and Vision. It’s a simple, yet adaptable guide that helps untangle the hidden cost of constant performance. Joseph weaves together research, client stories, and personal insight to show how we can move from silently enduring to intentionally living.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. It doesn’t read like a dense clinical manual, but like a thoughtful conversation with a trusted mentor who understands both the science and the human heart. The tools are clear, flexible, and easy to integrate into daily life, especially when paired with other supports like therapy, execution-based strategies, and lifestyle shifts.
That said, readers already deep in their mental health journey may find some of the material more affirming than groundbreaking. It isn’t a trauma manual or a substitute for individualized treatment, but rather a well-lit path you can walk alongside other practices. For me, this book was both illuminating and grounding. It helped me name what I’ve carried quietly, and offered a framework I can return to whenever I feel myself slipping back into “functioning” instead of truly living.
Read if you like:
✨ Practical mental health tools grounded in compassion and clarity
✨ Approachable guidance for high-functioning depression and burnout
✨ Frameworks you can pair with therapy, coaching, or lifestyle changes
✨ Books that help you slow down, take stock, and realign with your values
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Central to the book is her Five V’s framework: Validation, Venting, Values, Vitals, and Vision. It’s a simple, yet adaptable guide that helps untangle the hidden cost of constant performance. Joseph weaves together research, client stories, and personal insight to show how we can move from silently enduring to intentionally living.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. It doesn’t read like a dense clinical manual, but like a thoughtful conversation with a trusted mentor who understands both the science and the human heart. The tools are clear, flexible, and easy to integrate into daily life, especially when paired with other supports like therapy, execution-based strategies, and lifestyle shifts.
That said, readers already deep in their mental health journey may find some of the material more affirming than groundbreaking. It isn’t a trauma manual or a substitute for individualized treatment, but rather a well-lit path you can walk alongside other practices. For me, this book was both illuminating and grounding. It helped me name what I’ve carried quietly, and offered a framework I can return to whenever I feel myself slipping back into “functioning” instead of truly living.
Read if you like:
✨ Practical mental health tools grounded in compassion and clarity
✨ Approachable guidance for high-functioning depression and burnout
✨ Frameworks you can pair with therapy, coaching, or lifestyle changes
✨ Books that help you slow down, take stock, and realign with your values
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
May 16, 2025
High Functioning by Judith Joseph is a fascinating and eye-opening non fiction focused on mental health and self-help. This book is about high functioning depression, in which the author has researched, studied, and discovered is a form of depression that is not well known, and not well detected.
Have you been moving non-stop, driven by guilt, a need to control the narrative of your life, to overachieve, and to escape feeling? Do you feel like despite all you do, it’s not enough? But have you told your providers on repeat, “I don’t have depression”?
If this sounds like you (it sounds like me…), this book is one for you! You will not get bored with this read. It will keep you engaged and give you actionable steps to determine where you are at, and what you can do.
This book has changed the narrative of my own life. I know that seems like such a big statement to make, but this book spoke to me, down to my core. I cried multiple times with revelation after revelation. And then I spoke to my provider and therapist. I now have new plans in place to address an underlying issue that I’ve been trying to figure out for so long, but without a clear path, because I didn’t think I was depressed.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was so well done. I listened at 1.5x speed to ensure I absorbed every nugget of information (my typical audiobook speed is 1.75x).
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced listener copy. It has truly been a gift.
Have you been moving non-stop, driven by guilt, a need to control the narrative of your life, to overachieve, and to escape feeling? Do you feel like despite all you do, it’s not enough? But have you told your providers on repeat, “I don’t have depression”?
If this sounds like you (it sounds like me…), this book is one for you! You will not get bored with this read. It will keep you engaged and give you actionable steps to determine where you are at, and what you can do.
This book has changed the narrative of my own life. I know that seems like such a big statement to make, but this book spoke to me, down to my core. I cried multiple times with revelation after revelation. And then I spoke to my provider and therapist. I now have new plans in place to address an underlying issue that I’ve been trying to figure out for so long, but without a clear path, because I didn’t think I was depressed.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was so well done. I listened at 1.5x speed to ensure I absorbed every nugget of information (my typical audiobook speed is 1.75x).
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced listener copy. It has truly been a gift.
Want to read
October 16, 2025As heard on Self-Conscious with Chrissy Teigen (Dr. Judith Joseph: Childhood Trauma and How to Recognize High-Functioning Depression)
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/5b231c...
In this raw and revelatory episode of Self-Conscious, we talk about the kind of depression that hides behind a perfect Instagram feed. High-functioning depression doesn't leave you sobbing in bed—it shows up in overachievement, relentless busyness, and emotional numbness. Chrissy sits down with psychiatrist and author Dr. Judith Joseph for a conversation that starts in the mind and ends in the body—with tears, breakthroughs, and healing. In one of the most vulnerable interviews she’s ever done, Chrissy shares a gut-wrenching admission about childhood trauma that changed the course of her life, why she doesn’t trust her own emotions, and what it’s like to raise kids while still healing herself. This isn’t just a discussion—it’s a reckoning. Together, Chrissy and Dr. Judith unpack the science, psychology, and strategies for finally naming the pain and finding your way back to joy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
This episode contains discussions about trauma, including sexual abuse and emotional neglect. Listener discretion is advised.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/5b231c...
June 11, 2025
I received an audiocopy via Libro.Fm as an ALC and finally had the chance to listen to it. Normally this wouldn't be a book I would be drawn to, as even though my area of research is burnout and well-being, I don't usually go for books that seem to focus on a potential clinical diagnosis (depression/anxiety), as I'm not a clinician. But, I was intrigued by the title. I've come across "high functioning depression" in social media posts, blogs, etc., but hadn't seen it in a formal, legit source previously.
I'm glad I read it -- even though I scored low (a "1") on her HFD scale, there's some great info in here that is applicable to everyone, regardless of how severe or non-existent your HFD may be. I initially thought it may be a little gimmicky/trying to paint with a giant brush to diagnose everyone with high functioning depression, but I was glad I was wrong and that wasn't the case. She provides examples that will resonate with a lot of audiences (whether they work for a large company, are self-employed, or stay at home), recognizes that PTSD can occur for a variety of reasons (not just "big T traumas"), and provides suggestions that actually seem feasible for most people and wouldn't get them fired (unlike other books that tell people to start declining meetings and projects they don't have time for, which isn't something most employees can do).
Overall, a good, quick read with actionable advice.
Thanks to Libro.Fm and the publisher for the ALC!
I'm glad I read it -- even though I scored low (a "1") on her HFD scale, there's some great info in here that is applicable to everyone, regardless of how severe or non-existent your HFD may be. I initially thought it may be a little gimmicky/trying to paint with a giant brush to diagnose everyone with high functioning depression, but I was glad I was wrong and that wasn't the case. She provides examples that will resonate with a lot of audiences (whether they work for a large company, are self-employed, or stay at home), recognizes that PTSD can occur for a variety of reasons (not just "big T traumas"), and provides suggestions that actually seem feasible for most people and wouldn't get them fired (unlike other books that tell people to start declining meetings and projects they don't have time for, which isn't something most employees can do).
Overall, a good, quick read with actionable advice.
Thanks to Libro.Fm and the publisher for the ALC!
March 1, 2025
As someone who’s been battling depression as an adult, I really connected with this book. Depression isn’t static, it changes the way it shows up in your life, and it can be hard for others to understand when you seem so put together and happy on the outside. The author does a great job of exploring high functioning depression, showing how people can appear successful and manage their daily responsibilities while struggling internally. That hit home for me.
I also found the Five V's framework—Validation, Venting, Values, Vitals, and Vision really helpful. It’s easy to lose sight of what matters when you're caught up in the daily grind, but the book reminded me how important it is to validate my feelings, give myself space to vent, and focus on what truly matters. The focus on taking care of my mental and physical health, as well as setting achievable goals, gave me a sense of control and hope.
What stood out most was how compassionate the tone of the book is. It felt like someone truly understood what I was going through. This isn’t just a book about dealing with depression, it’s a guide to reclaiming joy and finding balance, even when it feels like everything is in chaos.
I also found the Five V's framework—Validation, Venting, Values, Vitals, and Vision really helpful. It’s easy to lose sight of what matters when you're caught up in the daily grind, but the book reminded me how important it is to validate my feelings, give myself space to vent, and focus on what truly matters. The focus on taking care of my mental and physical health, as well as setting achievable goals, gave me a sense of control and hope.
What stood out most was how compassionate the tone of the book is. It felt like someone truly understood what I was going through. This isn’t just a book about dealing with depression, it’s a guide to reclaiming joy and finding balance, even when it feels like everything is in chaos.
May 20, 2025
I had been hearing about High Functioning by Dr Judith Joseph on various popular talk shows. I was instantly interested. After being approved to read and review on NetGalley, I was ecstatic!!
This self-help book provides background on the roots of High Functioning Depression (HFD) and really gets into the specifics of this new diagnosis. The book also offers a variety of tools that readers can use to find a path forward.
I usually find background to be dull and want to skip that particular section. Not in this book! I voraciously read to learn as much as I could. I found this section to be so valuable. The tools were not what I expected, and that may have actually forced me to pay attention more as a reader. I found the section on Validation most valuable.
Many self-help books can be hard to get through and I often rush to the solutions. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of reading AND learning about HFD. I would really recommend this book to anyone who thinks that they may be dealing with High Functioning symptoms of any kind.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!!
This self-help book provides background on the roots of High Functioning Depression (HFD) and really gets into the specifics of this new diagnosis. The book also offers a variety of tools that readers can use to find a path forward.
I usually find background to be dull and want to skip that particular section. Not in this book! I voraciously read to learn as much as I could. I found this section to be so valuable. The tools were not what I expected, and that may have actually forced me to pay attention more as a reader. I found the section on Validation most valuable.
Many self-help books can be hard to get through and I often rush to the solutions. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of reading AND learning about HFD. I would really recommend this book to anyone who thinks that they may be dealing with High Functioning symptoms of any kind.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!!
Read
July 17, 2025I saw the audiobook for this novel on Libby and thought it sounded interesting.
“High Functioning” is a novel that helps the reader determine if they are suffering with high functioning depression and helps them navigate ways to improve their quality of life. This novel takes real life testimonials and provides the reader with hope that things will not feel “off” forever.
I took away a lot more from this novel than I expected. One element that has remained with me is the idea that if you are in a fight or flight environment for too long, you stop being able to listen to your body. Something might really be wrong and you are just not in tune enough to be able to acknowledge it until it is too late. I think in this fast-paced, high-stress world that is something most people could stand to remember. We all can benefit from taking some time for ourselves and just truly relaxing.
I think this novel will be hugely beneficial to anyone who suspects they may be suffering from high functioning depression.
“High Functioning” is a novel that helps the reader determine if they are suffering with high functioning depression and helps them navigate ways to improve their quality of life. This novel takes real life testimonials and provides the reader with hope that things will not feel “off” forever.
I took away a lot more from this novel than I expected. One element that has remained with me is the idea that if you are in a fight or flight environment for too long, you stop being able to listen to your body. Something might really be wrong and you are just not in tune enough to be able to acknowledge it until it is too late. I think in this fast-paced, high-stress world that is something most people could stand to remember. We all can benefit from taking some time for ourselves and just truly relaxing.
I think this novel will be hugely beneficial to anyone who suspects they may be suffering from high functioning depression.
February 27, 2025
This is a must read for everyone who uses phrases like “I’m so busy” or “I don’t have time to sleep, eat or even take a bathroom break!” But it’s also a must read for anyone who struggles to find the joy in things but still manage to function in their job, their family and life in general. Judith Joseph tells us in this book that not all depression is about being sad. And then she gives some extremely valuable insights into the what, why and how to overcome a diagnosis of high functioning depression.
I personally see myself as a medium functioning depressed person! However, I found this book very informative, enlightening and easy to read. The practical tasks were laid out simply, although don’t be fooled that they won’t be tough to accomplish. This book is about recognizing negative patterns and working towards breaking them.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me this ARC. I feel encouraged to take control of my emotions and bad habits and find my joy again.
I personally see myself as a medium functioning depressed person! However, I found this book very informative, enlightening and easy to read. The practical tasks were laid out simply, although don’t be fooled that they won’t be tough to accomplish. This book is about recognizing negative patterns and working towards breaking them.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me this ARC. I feel encouraged to take control of my emotions and bad habits and find my joy again.
May 23, 2025
High Functioning offers valuable insights into the often-overlooked realm of high-functioning depression. Dr. Judith Joseph adeptly identifies and discusses the nuances of this condition, providing readers with a clearer understanding of its manifestations. Her 5 V's framework—validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals—serves as a practical toolset for those seeking to navigate their mental health challenges.
While the book excels in raising awareness and initiating important conversations, it's essential to recognize that addressing mental health comprehensively often requires more than just reading. Professional guidance, therapy, and support systems play crucial roles in the healing journey. Nonetheless, this book serves as a commendable starting point for those looking to understand and confront high-functioning depression.
While the book excels in raising awareness and initiating important conversations, it's essential to recognize that addressing mental health comprehensively often requires more than just reading. Professional guidance, therapy, and support systems play crucial roles in the healing journey. Nonetheless, this book serves as a commendable starting point for those looking to understand and confront high-functioning depression.
May 27, 2025
High Functioning by Judith Joseph
(high functioning depression, teacher, mothers, masochism)
This book about high functioning depression has me feeling so seen and understood. Is my depression getting in the way of me raising my kids and getting to work on time? Nope. Most of what effects me about my depression is buried deep inside. I do not choose to bother my friends and family about it, I just go about my life and deal with it internally. Apparently this is a new entry into the DSM 5 which posits that people are coming from trauma and not realizing that they are over-working themselves. Then, the author offers a way to cope and heal from high functioning depression. I found the idea of masochism to be particularly interesting as I am a teacher, and work in a toxic environment that puts the needs of others above my own.
(high functioning depression, teacher, mothers, masochism)
This book about high functioning depression has me feeling so seen and understood. Is my depression getting in the way of me raising my kids and getting to work on time? Nope. Most of what effects me about my depression is buried deep inside. I do not choose to bother my friends and family about it, I just go about my life and deal with it internally. Apparently this is a new entry into the DSM 5 which posits that people are coming from trauma and not realizing that they are over-working themselves. Then, the author offers a way to cope and heal from high functioning depression. I found the idea of masochism to be particularly interesting as I am a teacher, and work in a toxic environment that puts the needs of others above my own.
March 29, 2025
This book is exceptionally insightful and well-researched. In 2025, I aim to expand my reading list to include more non-fiction titles that align with my interests and experiences. After several years of dealing with depression, this topic is particularly relevant to me.
Despite having participated in therapy for many years and possessing a considerable understanding of mental health, I found that this book offered valuable insights. It illuminated various aspects that I had not fully grasped before, including symptoms of depression and the factors that can exacerbate these symptoms. I learned a great deal from this book and genuinely appreciated the author's approach. I would recommend it to others!
Despite having participated in therapy for many years and possessing a considerable understanding of mental health, I found that this book offered valuable insights. It illuminated various aspects that I had not fully grasped before, including symptoms of depression and the factors that can exacerbate these symptoms. I learned a great deal from this book and genuinely appreciated the author's approach. I would recommend it to others!
March 31, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The book itself gets closer to 5 stars for me, but a 4 for the audiobook. Dr Joseph is compelling and interesting and writes in a very easy to understand method. This is one of the better books I’ve read on anxiety and depression, and definitely was inspiring to work on myself and give myself the grace and attention I need. The author narrated the book, which doesn’t always work well but she was much better than a lot of nonfiction author-narrators I’ve read! I think this would be much better in print, however, as I missed a lot of the referenced addendums and appendices, and things like self-evaluation surveys are near impossible to give the time and attention to they deserve in an audiobook format.
The book itself gets closer to 5 stars for me, but a 4 for the audiobook. Dr Joseph is compelling and interesting and writes in a very easy to understand method. This is one of the better books I’ve read on anxiety and depression, and definitely was inspiring to work on myself and give myself the grace and attention I need. The author narrated the book, which doesn’t always work well but she was much better than a lot of nonfiction author-narrators I’ve read! I think this would be much better in print, however, as I missed a lot of the referenced addendums and appendices, and things like self-evaluation surveys are near impossible to give the time and attention to they deserve in an audiobook format.
April 18, 2025
This book was an eye opener for me of what High Functioning is and how one might have hidden depression. This book spoke to me and I could see myself as a High Functioning person with depression as well as things that I have done on my own to help me feel better, do things to help myself move forward and add things to help me deal with stress. There are some good ideas of how to help yourself stop, recognize and then do things for your everyday wins so that you feel and see progress. But you also need to let people help you and don't forget to celebrate wins.
I will for sure go back to this book from time to time for inspiration.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copies of both the book and the audiobook.
I will for sure go back to this book from time to time for inspiration.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copies of both the book and the audiobook.
May 11, 2025
Meh. The good news is that I scored low on the initial assessment. Which means that the rest wasn't all that applicable. And most of the solutions are things that we already know repackaged in general self-help format. It's nice that it acknowledges a form of depression that isn't yet clinical but can still get better, and the tips are valid for everyone. I'm sure it'll really speak to some people, and the validation that it will give people who are living with less joy and purpose than would be ideal is worthwhile. But was it overwhelmingly helpful? I'm not sure even for someone on the far cust of high functioning depression how new any of the advice would be (but if it's a wake-up call at the moment someone needs it, then it's worth it).
October 13, 2025
This was the first book about depression that I’ve found addresses more everyday mental health. Most books seem to address how to deal with DEEP depression or low-functioning depression. This one talks about those of us walking around as a member of society while also knowing something isn’t right. Not feeling as we once did.
I found the information educational and pretty straightforward. The length of the book seemed appropriate for the information the author shared. No extra fluff. Certain sections were easier to skim over that didn’t feel as relevant to my needs as a reader, but overall I think this work will open a lot of readers’ eyes to how they can identify and improve symptoms in their own mental health.
I found the information educational and pretty straightforward. The length of the book seemed appropriate for the information the author shared. No extra fluff. Certain sections were easier to skim over that didn’t feel as relevant to my needs as a reader, but overall I think this work will open a lot of readers’ eyes to how they can identify and improve symptoms in their own mental health.
March 5, 2025
Judith Joseph’s book, High Functioning, allows people to realize what they’ve been feeling may be more than just stress or negativity. Depression is often looked at in a certain way, but what about the people who look fine but are not feeling right inside? The second part of the books talks about the 5 V’s: validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals. By using the 5 V’s Joseph believes we can become happier.. I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with depression or anyone who is interested in mental health.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2025
I give this book 4.5 stars. Being someone who is in the psychology field, I was eager to listen to this/read this and I absolutely went for it. I have been in the field for over 10 years and I myself suffer from depression so I related to so many of the symptoms she was speaking about. I like how she broke everything down so that EVERYONE could understand it better, not just those in the field. I really hope this opens up minds of those who just refuse to believe that this is possible. I have recommended this to so many people and to my former colleagues.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Insightful and Empowering
High Functioning by Dr. Judith Joseph shines a light on high functioning depression; a hidden struggle many face without realizing it. With compassion and clarity, Dr. Joseph offers five practical tools to help readers reclaim joy and emotional well-being. These “5 V’s” include: Validation, Venting, Values, Vision, and Vitals. The book is informative, validating, and easy to connect with. While a few parts could use more depth or variety, it’s an excellent resource for anyone feeling “off” despite seeming fine on the outside.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Judith Joseph, and Little Brown Spark for the ARC audio. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
High Functioning by Dr. Judith Joseph shines a light on high functioning depression; a hidden struggle many face without realizing it. With compassion and clarity, Dr. Joseph offers five practical tools to help readers reclaim joy and emotional well-being. These “5 V’s” include: Validation, Venting, Values, Vision, and Vitals. The book is informative, validating, and easy to connect with. While a few parts could use more depth or variety, it’s an excellent resource for anyone feeling “off” despite seeming fine on the outside.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Judith Joseph, and Little Brown Spark for the ARC audio. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 11, 2025
You know how they say “sometimes a book finds you when you most need it!” Yeah this was one of those moments. As someone who suffers from depression and has experienced the high functioning side a majority of the time and also the very very low functioning sides, I related to so much of what the author was saying. I felt seen and heard and I want to share this with so many of my friends who are like me stuck in this high functioning depressive state. I will be buying a physical copy ASAP so that I can go back and reflect on the suggestions and how they’ve helped.
April 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC audiobook. I had high hopes for this book with a forward from Mel Robbins and some of the early accolades. The audience is pretty specific. I am a millennial in corporate America so I technically am the target audience, but I do not like or want to be in corporate America. I don’t strive for success in the work place. We are all tired. I survive the work place. There is more of a culture problem than a high functioning depression problem for what this book is trying to do.
June 6, 2025
Insightful and thought-provoking, High Functioning Depression pulls back the curtain on a hidden struggle many face—where achievement and busyness mask a deep, underlying numbness. Joseph explores how high performers often use success as a coping mechanism, unknowingly disconnecting from joy, beauty, and their own sense of aliveness.
This book made me pause and reflect on some of my own tendencies. It offered not just awareness, but gentle and effective ways to begin healing. A meaningful read for anyone who feels like they’re “doing fine” on the outside but disconnected within.
This book made me pause and reflect on some of my own tendencies. It offered not just awareness, but gentle and effective ways to begin healing. A meaningful read for anyone who feels like they’re “doing fine” on the outside but disconnected within.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews