Slate Daily Feed How To! | Use Hypnosis
Sep 16, 2025
David Spiegel, a psychiatrist and leading authority on hypnosis from Stanford University, joins to unravel the mysteries of hypnosis beyond Hollywood clichés. He discusses its therapeutic benefits in managing stress, pain, and enhancing athletic performance. Listeners are treated to a practical demonstration, as Dr. Spiegel tests the host's hypnotizability and guides him through a self-hypnosis exercise aimed at tackling procrastination. He also explores ethical considerations and innovative tools like his app, Reveri, which teaches self-hypnosis techniques.
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Asthma Stopped By A Hypnosis Moment
- David Spiegel describes hypnotizing a 15-year-old asthmatic and stopping her wheeze within five minutes.
- He was briefly reprimanded for hypnotizing a minor without formal consent despite the rapid clinical improvement.
Hypnosis Is Focused, Dissociated, Experimental
- Spiegel defines hypnosis as a naturally occurring state of highly focused attention with dissociation from peripheral inputs.
- He emphasizes focused attention, dissociation, and trying out different self-views as core components of the state.
Start By Calming The Body First
- Use hypnosis to first control bodily stress reactions so cognitive tasks feel manageable.
- Then approach anxiety-provoking tasks with reduced physical reactivity to break the escalation cycle.
