The Gabby Reece Show #350: Hypnosis is NOT What You Think! How to Control Your Mind & Body – Dr. David Spiegel
Nov 17, 2025
Dr. David Spiegel, a Stanford psychiatrist with decades of expertise in hypnosis, shares fascinating insights on mind-body medicine. He clarifies that hypnosis is about enhancing self-control rather than losing it. Discover how self-hypnosis can reduce stress, improve sleep, and manage pain effectively. Dr. Spiegel explains the science of hypnotizability and demonstrates quick techniques to shift your internal narratives. He even discusses the development of the Reverie app, making self-hypnosis accessible to everyone!
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Swimmers Learned To 'Swim Their Own Race'
- Spiegel taught Stanford swimmers self-hypnosis to focus on their own rhythm and improved race times.
- Practicing 'swim your own race' reduced distraction and improved meet performance.
Control Your Body First
- When stressed, focus on the bodily reaction you can control, like slow exhalations.
- Use cyclic sighing to reduce physiological arousal and regain composure.
Three Mechanisms Of Hypnosis
- Hypnosis combines focused attention, dissociation, and cognitive flexibility.
- Highly hypnotizable people are better at set-shifting and trying new perspectives.
