Latest news with #JudithJoseph
IOL News
6 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Lost your spark? Here's how to find joy in the chaos of modern life
Make space to imagine what brings you joy in the future, not just replaying regrets from the past. 'We are built with that DNA for joy. It's our birthright as human beings,' Joseph recently told CNN. Joy isn't just a luxury. According to Dr Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, it's actually a part of who we are. Yet for many of us, that natural spark feels buried under work deadlines, family obligations and what Joseph calls high-functioning depression, the silent kind of struggle where, from the outside, everything seems fine. Inside, though, something feels empty. Joseph's book, 'High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy', explores why some people appear successful and put-together, yet quietly feel numb. It's a growing topic in mental health circles: research published in "Frontiers in Psychology" (2022) shows that anhedonia, the inability to feel joy, is common, even among high achievers. So, why should we make space for joy? And how can we do it in the middle of messy, modern family life? Here's what Joseph and other experts say and why it matters now more than ever. Joy vs. happiness: know the difference. Many of us chase happiness, the boost we get from buying something new, getting likes on a photo, or ticking off career goals. But joy, Joseph explains, is different. 'Happiness is external and a short-term fix … Joy is internal. You don't have to teach a child joy,' she says. It's a natural state that can still exist alongside hard days, grief or stress. That idea alone can be comforting: we don't have to wait for everything to be perfect to feel moments of joy. What stops us from feeling joy? It turns out that 'functioning' too well can actually be part of the problem. Joseph points to anhedonia (loss of pleasure) and alexithymia (difficulty identifying and expressing emotions). These aren't always obvious, especially if you're still hitting deadlines, making school runs and hosting family dinners. 'Many of us are pathologically productive,' Joseph admits. And modern family life often rewards that: we praise the parent who never rests or the adult child who always 'has it together'.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Having trouble experiencing joy? This may be why
Dr. Judith Joseph says joy isn't just a nice-to-have — it's a part of who we are. 'We are built with that DNA for joy. It's our birthright as human beings,' she told me recently. Joseph is a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher who has made it her mission to study joy — and what prevents people from feeling it. Her work, including her new book, 'High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy,' has drawn widespread attention, in part due to her pioneering research into the condition of high-functioning depression, which is finally being taken seriously. 'I wanted people to learn that, listen, depression looks different,' Joseph said. 'There are some people who struggle with anhedonia, (which means) a lack of joy,' Joseph told me. 'They don't seem depressed (but) you don't have to have sadness to meet criteria for depression.' Joseph includes herself among those individuals who have had high-functioning depression, and she noted that 'many of us are pathologically productive.' One of the biggest challenges in self-identifying high-functioning depression, she said, is that some people experience psychological barriers such as anhedonia and alexithymia, which is a difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions. Both can kill joy and are often overlooked in conversations about mental health because you can still function at work and at home, at least according to everyone else. Joseph unlocked more joy in her life through strong connections with family and community. Her joy, she said, also comes from helping others access their own. But that took time to discover. She not only did clinical studies on high-functioning depression but she herself experienced it, even as she racked up accolades professionally. 'That was me in 2020,' Joseph said. 'I wore this mask. On the outside it looked like everything was great — I was running my lab, I had a small child, a perfect family, I was on TV. But I was struggling with anhedonia,' or the inability to feel pleasure. So how do you combat it? Practicing the five V's Validation: Name how you feel. Acknowledge it. Accept it. 'If we don't know how we feel, if we can't name it, we're confused, it's uncertain. We feel anxious, so naming how you feel and accepting it is so important,' Joseph explained. Venting: Find someone you trust to express what you are going through, with a caveat. If you are not talking to a mental health professional, Joseph said to beware of 'trauma dumping' on friends and family. 'You want to check in. You want to ask for emotional consent and say, 'Is this a good time?'' Values: What gives you meaning and purpose in life? 'Think about things that are priceless. … I used to chase the accolades, the achievements, those are things that, you know, at the end of the day I'm not gonna talk about on my deathbed,' she said. Vitals: These are the things that keep you alive and well: healthy food, consistent exercise and good sleep. They're easy to say but hard for many of us to do. Vision: This is difficult to have when you are blinded by your own discomfort. But the joy doctor recommends you plan for more joy and stop revisiting the past. Do not try to do all of these at once or in rapid succession, Joseph warned me. 'Don't be high functioning,' she said, when it comes to this process. It's not another problem at work. It's your life. And remember: Happiness is external and a short-term fix like the rush you get when you buy something new or win an award. Joy is internal. 'It's harnessed within,' Joseph said. 'You don't have to teach a child joy. We are built with it.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Psychiatrist Compares How Each Generation Defines Happiness
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A psychiatrist's viral Instagram video is sparking a cross-generational conversation on happiness, by blending humor, research, and sharp cultural commentary to explore how boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and Gen Zers define fulfillment—and why their outlooks differ so starkly. Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher and bestselling author of High Functioning, posted the video on March 24. It has since garnered almost 90,000 likes. In it, New York-based Joseph walks a hallway in character—first as a boomer, then Gen Xer, a millennial, and finally Gen Zer—each embodying a different philosophy of happiness shaped by historical, economic and psychological forces. Known for blending mental-health education with accessible social-media trends, Joseph uses costume changes in her clip to portray how the different generations navigate happiness. Her reflections are based on her clinical practice and research. "Older generations tend to repress emotions and have a survival-mode way of approaching life based on their experience with limited resources or having their parents surviving war and economic depressions," Joseph (@drjudithjoseph) told Newsweek. "They tend to be focused on making sure that they have the basics in order to survive rather than thinking about their mental health and overall well-being. "Gen Z, on the other hand, grew up having constant access to information, constant comparisons of their own happiness to others because of social media; and they have a collective approach to happiness," Joseph said. How the Generations Approach Happiness Viewers were able to see Joseph walk through a hallway dressed in stereotypical outfits symbolizing each generation, channeling their mindsets and attitudes toward fulfillment. For boomers, she said happiness is rooted in tangible security: owning a home, having food, and being "gainfully employed." Gen X, by contrast, believes in working hard now in hopes of retiring comfortably later. Millennials, burdened by student loans and economic instability, often feel happiness is unaffordable. Gen Z, raised amid global uncertainty and with access to social media, are determined to pursue joy now—emphasizing that tomorrow is not promised. In the caption accompanying her post, Joseph elaborates on how "collective traumas, experiences and educational opportunities" shape each generation's mindset. Boomers, Joseph wrote, inherited a "survival mode mentality" from parents who lived through war and economic upheaval, often suppressing emotions in favor of grit and resilience. "Many older boomers did not have access to education about psychology, so they did not acknowledge the emotional well-being," she added. For Gen X, Joseph described a generation immersed in individualism, materialism, capitalism and consumerism. "They were praised for being 'doers' and, when situations were hard, they took a 'can-do' approach and focused on self-improvement strategies," she said. Gen Xers delayed gratification, equating material success with personal worth. Millennials, who matured in the digital age, were the first to access global information online. "They are more intentional about investing in their mental health," Joseph added. "They seek a life without burnout and would rather be happy internally than from having a façade of happiness." Struggling with debt and workplace pressures, millennials introduced the term "burnout" into mainstream discourse. Dr. Judith Joseph dresses up as a member of the millennial generation (L) and Generation Z (R) in an Instagram video. Dr. Judith Joseph dresses up as a member of the millennial generation (L) and Generation Z (R) in an Instagram video. @drjudithjoseph Gen Z, the most-connected generation yet, approach happiness as a collective and immediate pursuit. "They are rigid with boundaries and openly express their preferences unapologetically," Joseph said. "They are fed up with the system that selects a small group for financial superiority and are not afraid to leave a system that seems skewed for the wealthy." Joseph's insight into the different generations extends beyond the viral clip. She frequently teaches physicians how to appropriately craft mental-health messaging for traditional and social media. Her research also draws on sources like Pew and McKinsey. How This Impacts the Workplace "Older generations did not traditionally talk openly about mental health and well-being as it was not socially acceptable to do so," Joseph said. Dr. Judith Joseph poses for a headshot. Dr. Judith Joseph poses for a headshot. @drjudithjoseph For Gen X, mental health remained a peripheral topic, Joseph added, as they lacked digital access and often encountered societal stigmas. Today, these generational contrasts play out in workplaces and households alike. "People are living longer, and there are multigenerational households due to cost of living being high," Joseph said. "Also, workplaces have multigenerational experiences since we have all generations in the workplace now." The video, while humorous, aims to validate these different lived experiences and offer understanding across age lines. "People are curious about the mindsets of the other generations they see at home and at work," Joseph said. "And these videos are designed to be validating, while providing an explanation as to why people think so differently based on their generational experiences." Joseph continues to work on her lab that is dedicated to understanding the science of happiness. It is the first to study conditions like high-functioning anxiety and depression, and her book focuses on how people can reclaim a sense of joy in their lives.
CNN
20-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
Having trouble experiencing joy? This may be why
Dr. Judith Joseph says joy isn't just a nice-to-have — it's a part of who we are. 'We are built with that DNA for joy. It's our birthright as human beings,' she told me recently. Joseph is a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher who has made it her mission to study joy — and what prevents people from feeling it. Her work, including her new book, 'High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy,' has drawn widespread attention, in part due to her pioneering research into the condition of high-functioning depression, which is finally being taken seriously. 'I wanted people to learn that, listen, depression looks different,' Joseph said. 'There are some people who struggle with anhedonia, (which means) a lack of joy,' Joseph told me. 'They don't seem depressed (but) you don't have to have sadness to meet criteria for depression.' Joseph includes herself among those individuals who have had high-functioning depression, and she noted that 'many of us are pathologically productive.' One of the biggest challenges in self-identifying high-functioning depression, she said, is that some people experience psychological barriers such as anhedonia and alexithymia, which is a difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions. Both can kill joy and are often overlooked in conversations about mental health because you can still function at work and at home, at least according to everyone else. Joseph unlocked more joy in her life through strong connections with family and community. Her joy, she said, also comes from helping others access their own. But that took time to discover. She not only did clinical studies on high-functioning depression but she herself experienced it, even as she racked up accolades professionally. 'That was me in 2020,' Joseph said. 'I wore this mask. On the outside it looked like everything was great — I was running my lab, I had a small child, a perfect family, I was on TV. But I was struggling with anhedonia,' or the inability to feel pleasure. So how do you combat it? Validation: Name how you feel. Acknowledge it. Accept it. 'If we don't know how we feel, if we can't name it, we're confused, it's uncertain. We feel anxious, so naming how you feel and accepting it is so important,' Joseph explained. Venting: Find someone you trust to express what you are going through, with a caveat. If you are not talking to a mental health professional, Joseph said to beware of 'trauma dumping' on friends and family. 'You want to check in. You want to ask for emotional consent and say, 'Is this a good time?'' Values: What gives you meaning and purpose in life? 'Think about things that are priceless. … I used to chase the accolades, the achievements, those are things that, you know, at the end of the day I'm not gonna talk about on my deathbed,' she said. Vitals: These are the things that keep you alive and well: healthy food, consistent exercise and good sleep. They're easy to say but hard for many of us to do. Vision: This is difficult to have when you are blinded by your own discomfort. But the joy doctor recommends you plan for more joy and stop revisiting the past. Do not try to do all of these at once or in rapid succession, Joseph warned me. 'Don't be high functioning,' she said, when it comes to this process. It's not another problem at work. It's your life. And remember: Happiness is external and a short-term fix like the rush you get when you buy something new or win an award. Joy is internal. 'It's harnessed within,' Joseph said. 'You don't have to teach a child joy. We are built with it.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
CNN
20-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
Having trouble experiencing joy? This may be why
Mental healthFacebookTweetLink Follow Dr. Judith Joseph says joy isn't just a nice-to-have — it's a part of who we are. 'We are built with that DNA for joy. It's our birthright as human beings,' she told me recently. Joseph is a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher who has made it her mission to study joy — and what prevents people from feeling it. Her work, including her new book, 'High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy,' has drawn widespread attention, in part due to her pioneering research into the condition of high-functioning depression, which is finally being taken seriously. 'I wanted people to learn that, listen, depression looks different,' Joseph said. 'There are some people who struggle with anhedonia, (which means) a lack of joy,' Joseph told me. 'They don't seem depressed (but) you don't have to have sadness to meet criteria for depression.' Joseph includes herself among those individuals who have had high-functioning depression, and she noted that 'many of us are pathologically productive.' One of the biggest challenges in self-identifying high-functioning depression, she said, is that some people experience psychological barriers such as anhedonia and alexithymia, which is a difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions. Both can kill joy and are often overlooked in conversations about mental health because you can still function at work and at home, at least according to everyone else. Joseph unlocked more joy in her life through strong connections with family and community. Her joy, she said, also comes from helping others access their own. But that took time to discover. She not only did clinical studies on high-functioning depression but she herself experienced it, even as she racked up accolades professionally. 'That was me in 2020,' Joseph said. 'I wore this mask. On the outside it looked like everything was great — I was running my lab, I had a small child, a perfect family, I was on TV. But I was struggling with anhedonia,' or the inability to feel pleasure. So how do you combat it? Validation: Name how you feel. Acknowledge it. Accept it. 'If we don't know how we feel, if we can't name it, we're confused, it's uncertain. We feel anxious, so naming how you feel and accepting it is so important,' Joseph explained. Venting: Find someone you trust to express what you are going through, with a caveat. If you are not talking to a mental health professional, Joseph said to beware of 'trauma dumping' on friends and family. 'You want to check in. You want to ask for emotional consent and say, 'Is this a good time?'' Values: What gives you meaning and purpose in life? 'Think about things that are priceless. … I used to chase the accolades, the achievements, those are things that, you know, at the end of the day I'm not gonna talk about on my deathbed,' she said. Vitals: These are the things that keep you alive and well: healthy food, consistent exercise and good sleep. They're easy to say but hard for many of us to do. Vision: This is difficult to have when you are blinded by your own discomfort. But the joy doctor recommends you plan for more joy and stop revisiting the past. Do not try to do all of these at once or in rapid succession, Joseph warned me. 'Don't be high functioning,' she said, when it comes to this process. It's not another problem at work. It's your life. And remember: Happiness is external and a short-term fix like the rush you get when you buy something new or win an award. Joy is internal. 'It's harnessed within,' Joseph said. 'You don't have to teach a child joy. We are built with it.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
