The Science of Self-Hypnosis | Dr. David Spiegel

How it can help with stress, anxiety, and panic.

Dr. David Spiegel is Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford School of Medicine. Standing on a lifetime of research and clinical experience (nearly 50 years), he is a world renowned expert on hypnosis and has treated more than 7,000 patients with it. He founded the Reveri app to make his methodology accessible to all.

In this episode we talk about:

• What hypnosis actually is — and how it does or doesn't differ from the mainstream conceptions (ie stage hypnotists)
• The types of people who are — and aren't — hypnotizable. And why. 
• We go over the steps of self-hypnosis, so you can do it at home
• We talk about the differences between hypnosis and a flow state
• The difference between hypnosis and meditation 
• What happens in the brain during the hypnosis
• And what hypnosis is helpful for, including stress, anxiety, and panic (sidenote: Dan agreed to do the interview because he really wanted to see if hypnosis could help him with his ongoing claustrophobia on airplanes and elevators. You'll get to hear him try…)

Try Dr. David Spiegel's Reveri app: 20% off yearly or lifetime with code 10PERCENT

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Get ready for another Meditation Party at Omega Institute! This in-person workshop brings together Dan with his friends and meditation teachers, Sebene Selassie, Jeff Warren, and for the first time, Ofosu Jones-Quartey. The event runs October 24th-26th. Sign up and learn more at eomega.org/workshops/meditation-party-2025.

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