Signs you may have high-functioning depression – and 5 ways to fix it | Dr. Judith Joseph and Dr. Sarah Berry

1 May 2025 · 50m

ZOE Science & Nutrition

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We often associate depression with withdrawal and low energy - but what if it hides behind a packed schedule and staying busy? Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph joins Professor Sarah Berry to explore high-functioning depression.

Dr. Joseph explains how depression gets missed by medical professionals, explaining what’s really happening in the brain. She shares how traditional definitions of depression often overlook people who appear to be coping, leading many to go undiagnosed and unsupported.

We discuss how a busy, high-achieving lifestyle can actually mask the symptoms of depression - and even perpetuate it. Dr. Joseph, the first psychiatrist to run a lab focused on high-functioning depression, shares her latest findings on its causes, signs, and long-term impact. ZOE’s Chief Scientist Prof. Sarah Berry explains how food and the gut microbiome may hold the key to reducing these symptoms.

If this sounds familiar, Dr. Joseph introduces a quick self-test to help identify high-functioning depression - and outlines five practical strategies to begin healing, and Sarah gives you the foods that could help.

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Timecodes

01:55 Quickfire questions

03:55 How depression has changed

05:34 Do you have Anhedonia?

10:05 What is high functioning depression?

12:22 3 categories you should understand

14:48 The risk of being busy all the time

17:55 How to cultivate joy and purpose

18:28 Why men are at increased risk