Psychiatrist Shares Life-Changing Advice from Therapy to Combat Burnout and Find Happiness

Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and trauma researcher who has led trauma clinics in South Africa and studied mental health practices in over 30 countries, has opened up about the transformative experience of her own therapy, revealing insights that reshaped her life and clinical approach to burnout and self-sabotaging behavior.

Dr. Joseph initially dismissed therapy as a waste of time. However, after several sessions, her therapist confronted her with a candid observation: “We’re not supposed to use the term ‘masochism’ in therapy, but it applies to you, and you need to do something about it.”

This marked a turning point. Masochism, once included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a self-defeating behavior pattern, was later removed due to concerns about victim-blaming. Dr. Joseph uses the term not to assign blame but to help individuals recognize and break harmful patterns.

An upset couple sitting on a bench | Source: Pexels

Masochism in Modern Life

According to Dr. Joseph, masochism often appears in two domains:

Relationships: Chronic people-pleasing can lead to imbalanced dynamics where one person bears an unfair burden of responsibilities, attracting those who exploit their self-sacrifice.

Career: Overwork in pursuit of success or meaning — common in high-stakes fields like law, journalism, or finance — can mask a deeper pattern of self-neglect.

Overworked employee | Source: Pexels

Breaking the Cycle

Dr. Joseph advocates for a three-step approach to reverse self-sabotage:

Listen to your body: Physical signs of burnout, like over-caffeination or neglected self-care, are red flags.

Listen to your friends: Feedback from others, even subtle, may reflect how one’s choices affect relationships.

“Masochism isn’t destiny — it’s a choice. And you can always choose differently,” Dr. Joseph concludes.