The Shocking Benefits of Hypnosis: Erase Anxiety, Reduce Stress & Heal Trauma | Dr. David Spiegel

Sep 22, 2025

Dr. David Spiegel is an Associate Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford and a leading expert in hypnosis. He reveals how hypnosis can drastically reduce anxiety in just minutes and help rewire our brain’s response to stress. Listeners learn that hypnosis is often misunderstood, yet it can effectively manage pain and replace harmful habits. Dr. Spiegel also shares practical self-hypnosis techniques, discusses the importance of breathwork, and introduces his Reverie app to expand access to these life-changing tools.

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ADVICE

Be Intentional, Not Just Observant

Use hypnosis intentionally to solve problems rather than just observe feelings.
Apply targeted imagery (e.g., ice cap for migraine) to change physiological responses.

ADVICE

Scale Challenges To Guarantee Wins

Break challenges into bite-sized, non-overwhelming steps you can complete.
Structure tasks so you're likely to succeed and build confidence incrementally.

ADVICE

Support Your System With Basic Habits

Prioritize sleep, exercise, and good nutrition to improve stress tolerance.
Use exercise to align physiological arousal with purposeful activity and boost resilience.

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Dr. David Spiegel is the Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the clinical use of hypnosis and how it can be used to manage stress, anxiety, and overall wellbeing.

Today on the show we discuss: why most people stay trapped in anxiety and bad habits, the truth about what hypnosis really is and why it’s often misunderstood, how hypnosis can quickly calm your body and rewire your brain’s alarm system, the shocking science showing hypnosis can reduce anxiety in minutes, practical tools you can use daily to erase stress and build confidence, how hypnosis helps heal trauma and break phobias, and much more.

Want to be coached by me? I’ve got a few 1:1 spots open where I’ll help you break bad habits, build healthier routines, and transform your life. Click here to book your intro call: https://calendly.com/dougbopst/30-min-call/

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