Episode 601: Dr. Spiegel: The Science of Hypnosis: How to Rewire Your Brain and Break Bad Habits

We all have habits we want to break, whether it's overthinking, procrastinating, emotional eating, or constantly stressing about things we can't control. But even when we know exactly what we need to change, our brains can make it incredibly difficult to follow through. So how much control do we actually have over our thoughts and behaviors?

We dive deeper into this in Habits & Hustle with Dr. David Spiegel. We talk about the science of hypnosis, how it can help people break bad habits, manage anxiety, improve sleep, and even change how they experience pain. We also get into why some people are more hypnotizable than others, the connection between overthinking and self-sabotage, and what happened when Dr. Spiegel actually tried to hypnotize me.

Dr. Spiegel is a Stanford psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and one of the world's leading experts on clinical hypnosis. He's published more than 400 scientific papers and spent decades researching how the brain influences our physical and emotional responses. He explains what actually happens in the brain during hypnosis, why our thoughts can keep us stuck in old patterns, and how techniques like self-hypnosis and breathwork can help us better manage stress, focus, and behavior.

What's Discussed:

(08:02) How hypnosis can help people quit smoking and break long-standing habits.

(14:57) How your brain can respond to imaginary meals as though you've actually eaten.

(17:02) Why your brain keeps you stuck in old habits and negative thought patterns.

(20:24) How to overcome procrastination by changing the way you approach your goals.

(22:47) Why high-performing athletes sometimes perform worse under pressure.

(35:46) Why overthinkers and highly analytical people may be harder to hypnotize.

(44:08) How to calm your racing thoughts and fall asleep more easily.

(50:32) How social support and human connection can influence longevity.

(55:33) Why people can become addicted to stress without realizing it.

(58:40) How hypnosis can change the way your brain processes pain and reality.

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Find more from Jen Cohen:

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Find more from Dr. David Spiegel:

Website: Stanford Medicine profile

App: Reveri

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Book: Trance and Treatment: Clinical Uses of Hypnosis

LinkedIn: David Spiegel