DeepSummary
In this episode, Tim Ferriss interviews Dr. David Spiegel, a psychiatrist and hypnosis expert from Stanford University. They discuss the nature of hypnosis, how it differs from meditation, and its applications for pain management, stress relief, and treating various conditions like addiction and PTSD. Dr. Spiegel explains the neurobiology behind hypnosis, how to determine one's susceptibility to it, and actually hypnotizes Tim during the conversation to demonstrate its effects.
They explore the history of hypnosis, dating back to the 18th century, and Dr. Spiegel shares fascinating stories of using hypnosis to treat patients, including a combat veteran suffering from PTSD. He also talks about Reveri, the world's first interactive self-hypnosis app he founded, and how it can help people manage issues like insomnia, phobias, and chronic pain.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Spiegel emphasizes the safety and effectiveness of hypnosis as an underutilized therapeutic tool. He provides insights into leveraging hypnosis for cognitive flexibility, pain relief, and reframing problems from a more positive perspective.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Hypnosis involves a heightened state of focused attention, dissociation from external stimuli, and increased suggestibility.
- The effects of hypnosis can be directly observed and felt, such as relief from pain or anxiety.
- Hypnosis shows potential therapeutic benefits for various conditions like PTSD, addiction, insomnia, and chronic pain management.
- An individual's susceptibility to hypnosis can be measured and is a relatively stable trait.
- While hypnosis has a long history, it remains an underutilized therapeutic resource.
- Reveri is the world's first interactive self-hypnosis app aimed at helping people manage issues through hypnosis exercises.
- The neurobiology of hypnosis involves changes in brain networks related to executive control, salience, and pain processing.
- Hypnosis can help induce a state of cognitive flexibility to reframe problems from a more positive perspective.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Hypnosis has three main components I've already mentioned, too. Highly focused attention or absorption, dissociation, putting outside conscious awareness. Things that are in consciousness right now, for example. Hopefully you're so interested in what I'm saying that you're not aware of the sensations of your feet touching the floor right now. If you were, we could just stop now. But the more intensely focused you are, the more things you've got to put outside of awareness to keep from distracting you. And in some ways, the most interesting in hypnosis is what used to be called suggestibility.“ by David Spiegel
- “Hypnosis is like an underappreciated company that hasn't been managed well and has a lot more positive resources. And that's what it's like. We just don't take advantage of it.“ by David Spiegel
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Episode Information
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig
4/10/24
Dr. David Spiegel is Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he has been a member of the academic faculty since 1975. He is the founder of Reveri, the world's first interactive self-hypnosis app.
Timestamps for this episode are available below.
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Timestamps:
[07:00] How Herbert Spiegel was exposed to hypnosis.
[10:14] Using hypnosis to cure non-epileptic seizures.
[11:53] What is a forensic psychiatrist?
[14:43] How hypnosis works.
[17:54] Hypnosis and the flow state.
[21:03] How hypnosis differs from meditation.
[22:38] Determining one’s susceptibility to hypnosis.
[27:21] I take the eye-roll test.
[29:33] Thoughts on EMDR.
[36:29] Therapeutic psychedelics and ego dissolution.
[41:05] Potential adverse effects of hypnosis?
[42:34] Accelerated TMS improves response to hypnosis.
[44:25] Hypnosis as a tool for stress and pain relief.
[48:56] David treats my back pain with hypnosis.
[57:09] Replicating this effect with self-hypnosis.
[57:57] Understanding the science of pain relief.
[1:03:18] Filtering the hurt from the pain.
[1:06:37] For us, not against us.
[1:09:12] Hypnosis vs. other addiction interventions.
[1:11:41] A mesmerizing tale of hypnotic history.
[1:16:10] Most surprising patient outcomes.
[1:24:53] Finding connection to treat the agitated.
[1:28:40] Who is Reveri designed for?
[1:31:15] Hypnosis as a first rather than last resort.
[1:35:02] Further resources and final thoughts.
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