Registration now closed

Dr. Judith Joseph: High Functioning

with Glory Edim and Talia Cadet

Are you going through a period in your life when things feel "off"? We all know what can't-get-out-of-bed depression looks like. But there's another, lesser-known side of depression that is hidden.

Join the Library and Politics and Prose bookstore for a conversation with Dr. Judith Joseph. Those of us with High-Functioning Depression (HFD) usually don't act the way we think a depressed person might. On the surface, we seem fine: We are succeeding at work, pulling our weight at home, and carrying on with our typical social life. Yet behind that mask of productivity we are barely surviving, and certainly not thriving. And we may have no idea why, or what to do about it.

In High Functioning, Dr. Judith Joseph draws on original research, client cases, and her own personal struggles with HFD to demystify this poorly understood condition. Her five simple tools--the Five V's--will help you understand the science of your happiness and empower you to reclaim your life and joy.

• Validation: Acknowledge and accept your emotions about past traumas and present pain
• Venting: Let out the frustrations and anxious energy bottled up inside
• Values: Identify the purpose and priorities that matter most
• Vitals: Slow down to listen to your brain and body and monitor the six vital signs of emotional functioning
• Vision: Plan for and celebrate successes, milestones, and everyday joy

By following the Five V's, we can put an end to self-sacrificing and self-sabotaging, calm our inner turmoil, and go from merely functioning to truly living.

Books will be available for sale and signing through Politics and Prose.

About the Author

Judith Joseph MD, MBA, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and researcher who specializes in mental health and trauma. She is the founder of and chief investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City's premier clinical research site, a clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, and chairwoman of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

As one of social media's favorite psychiatrists, Dr. Judith gets over 15 million views a month. Her Instagram, full of funny, role-playing videos and revealing insights, got more than 10 million impressions and her TikToks were viewed more than 5 million times just last month alone. She holds an undergraduate degree from Duke as well as a medical doctorate and master's in business administration from Columbia.

About the Conversation Partners

Dr. Joseph will be in conversation with Glory Edim. Edim is a literary tastemaker, entrepreneur, and advocate for diverse voices in literature. In 2015, she founded Well-Read Black Girl (WRBG), an online platform and book club dedicated to celebrating the works of Black women authors and creating a supportive online community for readers. Under Edim's leadership, WRBG has grown into a nonprofit organization, hosting events, book festivals, and author conversations that highlight the richness and diversity of Black literature. Her efforts have earned her accolades such as the 2017 Innovator's Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes and the Madam C.J. Walker Award from the Hurston/Wright Foundation. As an author herself, Edim has contributed to the literary landscape with her bestselling anthologies Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves , and On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library.

The conversation will be moderated by Talia Cadet. Cadet is a content creator and influencer with an audience of over 230,000 across social media platforms. Her DC, book and Black-owned business videos have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone and ESSENCE. She is also a host who has been in conversation with New York Times bestselling authors like Kennedy Ryan, Victoria Christopher Murray and Denene Millner. Her advocacy as one of the eight creator-plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit challenging the U.S. TikTok Ban is highlighted in the IMPACT x Nightline TV special "The Death of TikTok?", which is now streaming on Hulu. Talia has worked as a social media professional for over ten years and currently serves as Chief Digital Officer for a DC public affairs firm. She currently resides in Prince George's County, MD.

Upcoming events