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

Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and trauma researcher, 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, who has led trauma clinics in South Africa and studied mental health practices in over 30 countries, 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 heart: Before committing to a task, ask if it aligns with genuine desire or self-worth.

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