High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy

Joseph, Judith. High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9780316577298.

Many individuals experience periods of subtle but persistent unease, characterized by a diminished capacity for joy, a pessimistic outlook, and a lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. While outwardly appearing functional – maintaining work, home responsibilities, and social engagements – these individuals are merely surviving beneath a veneer of normalcy, far from truly thriving. This experience often masks a less recognized form of depression known as high-functioning depression.

Unlike the stereotypical image of profound sadness and incapacitation, people suffering from high-functioning depression present with an ability to maintain daily routines, leaving those affected unaware of the underlying illness and unsure how to address their suffering. High Functioning redefines this mental health condition and offers validation and practical tools for those who experience this condition. Employing research-based pathways including validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals, High Functioning aims to foster healthier relationships and cultivate a more optimistic outlook on the present and future.