High Functioning summary

At first, Judith Joseph didn’t even realize she was depressed. If anyone asked, she would say she was fine. Her career was going well. She was taking good care of her daughter. She was keeping busy, getting things done, and yet… something was wrong. She could sense it. Others around her were starting to pick up on it too.

As a psychiatrist, Joseph knew she needed to find out what was going on. So she did some research, and started reading about “high-functioning depression.” This term is relevantly recent – it didn’t enter the public consciousness until around 2016. And even now, it’s not always recognized.

For instance, let’s say you go to your doctor. They ask you, “Are you showing up at work? What about family responsibilities?” If you seem to be coping, then what’s the problem?

That’s the thing about high-functioning depression – people are still able to function. But they’re living life on autopilot.

Once you start to look, high-functioning depression is all around us. It’s the person who has to be constantly productive, unable to relax in their free time. It’s the person who’s so focused on taking care of their loved ones, they don’t take care of themselves. 

It’s people like television correspondent Cheslie Kryst. Although she was highly successful in her career, she struggled with imposter syndrome and an inner voice that told her she was “never enough.” In 2022, Kryst committed suicide at the age of 30.

The consequences of high-functioning depression can be serious. And even if people don’t reach the point of feeling suicidal, it can still have a huge impact on their quality of life. 

That’s why Joseph has done the research into the causes, symptoms, and solutions for high-functioning depression. She’s also come up with a framework to help people enjoy their lives once more.

First though, let’s look at the cause of this disorder. According to Joseph, high-functioning depression is rooted in trauma. 

Trauma takes many different forms. Childhood trauma is often caused by divorce or abuse. Adult trauma might come from a stressful work environment, or a breakdown in a romantic relationship. There’s also intergenerational trauma and collective trauma – what we went through during the Covid-19 pandemic, for example.

Trauma doesn’t always have to be dramatic and life-shattering. It might be something subtler, like being betrayed by someone close to you. 

So when you reflect on things that have happened in your life, keep an open mind. It’s possible that some of these incidents are still affecting you today. And without you being aware of it, they may have triggered your depression.

Now, let’s look at how the condition manifests.