Hypnotherapy for menopausal women: pain, sleep, stress & positive habits with Dr. David Spiegel
Oct 2, 2023
auto_awesome
Dr. David Spiegel, an expert in hypnotherapy and hypnosis, discusses the benefits of hypnosis for menopausal women, including pain management, improved sleep, stress reduction, and positive habit development. The podcast challenges misconceptions about hypnotherapy and emphasizes its potential in mental health. It also explores a case study of a woman experiencing a transformative mental shift through hypnosis and delves into the concept of hypnotizability in adulthood.
Hypnosis can alleviate menopausal symptoms like pain, sleep issues, and stress.
Hypnosis allows individuals to reframe their perception of symptoms and find relief.
Reprogramming the brain through hypnosis can help individuals regulate their responses to stress and trauma.
Deep dives
Hypnotherapy and the Power of Self-Hypnosis
Dr. David Spiegel discusses the power of hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis as a tool to address a variety of issues, including chronic pain, hot flashes, anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping. He emphasizes the importance of learning techniques to train the mind and break patterns of thought that are no longer serving us. Hypnosis allows individuals to try out being different and experience new perspectives before committing to them. By calming the body and soothing the nervous system, hypnosis can help individuals reframe their perception of symptoms and find relief.
Using Hypnosis to Break Patterns of Thought
Dr. Spiegel explains how hypnosis can be used to break the cycle of looping thoughts, especially in menopausal women who may be experiencing anxiety, hot flashes, and trouble sleeping. By focusing on the physical reactions in the body and finding ways to soothe and calm the body, individuals can change their perspectives on symptoms and regain a sense of control. Hypnosis allows for cognitive flexibility, enabling individuals to see things from a new point of view and potentially change their physiology and perception of their symptoms.
Reprogramming the Brain and Harnessing the Power of the Body
Dr. Spiegel highlights the importance of reprogramming the brain by focusing on the body's reactions to stress and trauma. He explains that hypnosis can turn down activity in the stress response network, allowing individuals to face old problems from a new perspective. By soothing the body and training the brain to feel safe and comfortable in challenging situations, individuals can learn to regulate their physical and mental responses to stress and pain. Hypnosis can also foster neuroplasticity and enhance the brain's capacity for learning and change.
Hypnosis as a Tool for Positive Change
Hypnosis allows individuals to quickly try out being someone different and make sudden changes. It helps people let go of burdens and blame, such as in the case of a woman who overcame self-blame for a rape she was not responsible for. Hypnosis involves a change in brain patterns, including increased left frontal theta activity, decreased activity in the salient network, and enhanced functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the insula. Through hypnosis, individuals can turn off self-limiting beliefs, focus their attention, and better control their bodies and responses.
The Power of Hypnosis in Self-Care
Hypnosis is a powerful tool to help individuals improve their well-being. By accessing their own thoughts in a different way, people can use self-hypnosis to better control their brain and create positive changes. Hypnosis can be used to relax, control pain, deal with stress, quit smoking, eat healthier, and more. It is important to understand that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, and individuals have the power to choose what information to take in and how to respond to it carefully.
In this episode, we explore the world of hypnotherapy and hypnosis, focusing on its benefits for menopausal women. Our guest, Dr. Spiegel, shares insights about their app and guides us through a self-hypnosis exercise. We discuss the power of hypnosis in managing pain, improving sleep, reducing stress, and promoting positive habits. Dr. Spiegel's mission is to make hypnosis more accessible and change the perception of this therapeutic technique. Join us as we dive into the fascinating potential of hypnosis.
To view full show notes, more information on our guests, resources mentioned in the episode, discount codes, transcripts, and more, visit https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep199.
Dr. David Spiegel is Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Director of the Center on Stress and Health and the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has published thirteen books, 425 scientific journal articles, and 175 book chapters on hypnosis, psychosocial oncology, stress physiology, trauma, and psychotherapy for stress, anxiety, and depression. His research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and a number of foundations. He is Past President of the American College of Psychiatrists and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, and is a Member of the National Academy of Medicine. He spoke on hypnosis at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, 2018. He is co-founder and scientific director of Reveri Health, the digital interactive hypnosis and breathwork app downloadable from the App Store and Google Play.