Motor City Hypnotist

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The Motor City Hypnotist Podcast discusses all things related to hypnosis, mental health, self-help and inspiration without the psychobabble. Come join us for fun, informative and entertaining content that you can use to improve yourself and make positive changes! David R. Wright is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Hypnotist/Hypnotherapist.  He has been in practice for 29 years and performs comedy hypnosis stage shows as The Motor City Hypnotist.

  1. 2D AGO

    Anxiety Meds, Explained Clearly - Part 2

    Send a text Anxiety can feel like an engine stuck at redline—your thoughts race, your chest tightens, and logic gets drowned out by adrenaline. We’re breaking down what actually helps. From fast-acting benzodiazepines for crisis moments to long-term SSRIs that lower your baseline anxiety, we talk about what these medications do in the brain, how they differ, and why the right plan can mean real sleep, clearer thinking, and the freedom to do things you’ve been avoiding. We also get honest about risks and stigma. Dependence and withdrawal make benzos a short-term tool that needs guardrails and a thoughtful taper. SSRIs come with an adjustment period and possible side effects like emotional blunting or sexual changes. The key is personalization: track how you feel, meet your prescriber regularly, and adjust dosage or switch medications when needed. When medication reduces panic and calms your nervous system, therapy starts working better—exposure gets easier, mindfulness sticks, and daily life stops feeling like a series of alarms. Tools matter too. We share simple, proven techniques you can use tonight: tactile grounding like finger-to-thumb tapping and rhythmic clapping, guided apps with noise colors to quiet rumination, and light-based practices that use visual fixation to downshift arousal—similar in principle to classic hypnosis methods. We cover when beta blockers shine for public speaking or high-stakes events, and how to decide if meds belong in your plan by asking whether anxiety is disrupting work, relationships, or sleep, and how often panic strikes. If you’ve wondered “Will meds change who I am?” or “Does needing help mean I’m weak?” this conversation reframes relief as strategy, not surrender. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your question might shape our next episode. Recorded 3-2-26 Episode 329 FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    40 min

  2. MAR 5

    Anxiety Meds, Explained Clearly - Part 1

    Send a text Anxiety can feel like a siren that never shuts off—racing heart, shaky hands, spinning thoughts. We break down the tools that can turn down the noise, from fast-acting benzodiazepines to longer-term SSRIs and SNRIs, and we get real about benefits, risks, and how to use meds without letting them use you. You’ll hear why benzos act like a fire extinguisher in a panic, how SSRIs and SNRIs rewire emotional regulation over weeks, and where buspirone and beta blockers help when worry is more cognitive or when the body symptoms take the lead. We dig into brain mechanics in plain language: GABA as the brake pedal, the amygdala’s overactivation, and stress hormones like cortisol that prime the fight-or-flight response. Then we connect the science to everyday life with a powerful reframe—your panic sensations can mirror a workout—so the body’s alarms feel less like danger and more like energy you can ride. That shift matters, because fear of the sensations often fuels the spiral more than the sensations themselves. Most important, we treat medication as a tool, not a finish line. Pairing the right prescription with therapy creates space to do the real work: confronting avoidance, testing catastrophic predictions, and building new habits until calm becomes your baseline. We also share a moving “winner of the week” rescue and spotlight an adoptable dog, because hope and heart help too. If you’ve wondered whether anxiety meds are addictive, if they change your personality, or how to weigh side effects against relief, this is your guide to informed, compassionate choices. Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, leave a review on your favorite app, and share this episode with someone who could use a clearer path through anxiety. Your questions shape part two—what should we tackle next? Recorded 3-2-26 FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    31 min

  3. MAR 5

    Antidepressants, Demystified - Part 4

    Send a text What if the real power of antidepressants isn’t euphoria, but a clearer runway to heal? We close our four-part series by getting practical about how medication fits into a full recovery plan—and why stability, not shortcuts, is the win that unlocks change. We dig into the biggest myths first: no, antidepressants don’t “change who you are,” and no, taking them isn’t a failure. They’re evidence-based tools that can reduce the intensity of depression so therapy, routines, and relationships can start working again. We walk through major classes—SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, and MAOIs—explain how they differ, and share how gene-guided testing can cut down the frustrating trial-and-error. Side effects like sexual issues and weight gain get honest airtime, along with practical counter-moves: consistent sleep, short daily movement, protein-forward meals, and small self-care anchors that keep you moving on low-energy days. Safety stays front and center. We talk about black box warnings, what to watch during the first weeks, and how fast feedback between you, your prescriber, and your therapist prevents small problems from becoming big ones. From there, we zoom out: medication as a bridge to behavioral change, therapy as the engine that rewires habits and beliefs, and social support as the buffer against isolation. If your journey has felt cyclical—new pill, new drop-off, repeat—we offer a grounded framework for measuring progress, advocating for adjustments, and knowing when to taper or stay the course. We also tee up what’s next: anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines and non-benzo options, and how they can complement or stand apart from antidepressants. Whether you’re weighing your first prescription or reassessing after a few misses, you’ll leave with clear steps, better language for your next appointment, and permission to treat depression like the medical condition it is. If this helped, follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Recorded 2-23-26 FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    43 min

  4. MAR 3

    Antidepressants, Therapy, And Real Change - Part 3

    Send a text Feeling better shouldn’t feel like a mystery. We dig into the real mechanics of antidepressants—how SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and atypicals shift brain chemistry over time—and why the two-to-six week window makes sense once you see how stabilization actually works. Along the way, we unpack the biggest myths: no, these meds don’t rewrite your personality, and no, they don’t create the craving cycle you see with opioids or benzodiazepines. What they can do is give you a steadier emotional floor so therapy and daily habits finally stick. We also talk about why pairing medication with therapy changes the game. When your baseline moves from chaos to calm, you make clearer choices and build momentum. Hypnosis shows up here as a clinical tool, not a stage trick—useful for downshifting anxiety, reframing pain, and training attention so it stops feeding the spiral. Think of it as cognitive strength training: short, focused sessions that unlock better days while medication does its quieter work in the background. If you’ve ever asked, “Will I still be me?” try a sharper question: “When was I my best me?” Answering that helps shape treatment choices, from activating meds for low energy to options with fewer sexual side effects, and it gives therapy a specific target to build toward. We offer practical steps for the in-between weeks—mood tracking, micro-rituals, honest check-ins—and a reminder to taper with your prescriber if you’re making changes. Stability isn’t perfection; it’s the space where joy, focus, and connection become possible again. If this conversation helps, share it with someone who’s stuck in the fog. Subscribe for more grounded mental health guidance, leave a quick review to support the show, and tell us: what’s one myth about antidepressants you want the world to drop? FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    39 min

  5. FEB 26

    Antidepressants, Explained Clearly - Part 2

    Send a text A four-hour swim through rough seas sets the tone for resilience, and we channel that grit into a clear-eyed tour of antidepressants that actually help people get their lives back. We pick up our series on depression treatment with a practical, plain-English guide to SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and atypicals—how each class works on serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine, what side effects to expect, and why some meds also ease nerve pain or insomnia. If you’ve ever wondered why results take two to six weeks, we break down the brain science: receptors need time to recalibrate and new pathways to form, which is why steady dosing and patience pay off. We share how we approach titration, when to hold, when to adjust, and how pharmacogenomic tools like Genesight can reduce trial-and-error by flagging side-effect risks up front. You’ll hear why bupropion can boost energy and focus with fewer sexual side effects, when mirtazapine’s sedation and appetite increase are a feature not a bug, and why TCAs and MAOIs still matter for tough, treatment-resistant cases. Most importantly, we explain why medication is a tool, not the destination: better outcomes come when meds lower symptom intensity and therapy builds lasting skills—sleep, exercise, reframing, and relationship repair. We also get candid about the real-world mess: insurance hurdles that delay payments and care, and how clinics navigate those roadblocks to keep patients supported. It’s an unfiltered, compassionate look at what works, what to watch for, and how to advocate for the help you deserve. Press play to get smarter about your options, prepare for part three on myths and misconceptions, and take a step toward relief that lasts. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find solid mental health guidance. FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    41 min

  6. FEB 24

    Antidepressants, Explained Clearly - Part 1

    Send a text Ever been told “antidepressants change your personality” or “you’ll be on them forever”? We’re cutting through the noise with a clear, grounded tour of how modern antidepressants work, why they were discovered by accident, and what real people should know before starting, switching, or stopping. We share the surprising roots of MAOIs and tricyclics, how SSRIs became mainstream, and where ECT fits today for treatment-resistant cases. No jargon, no scare tactics—just the essentials you can use to make smarter choices with your clinician. We break down brain basics in plain English: neurons, synapses, and the roles of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in mood and motivation. You’ll hear why reuptake inhibition matters, what changes to expect first, and how to spot common side effects like sleep shifts, nausea, and sexual dysfunction. Just as important, we draw a bright line between dependence and addiction, and explain why tapering off—never quitting cold turkey—protects your body while you pivot your plan. Along the way, we talk stigma, ask the questions your provider hopes you’ll bring, and explore how medication pairs with therapy, sleep, movement, and community to create lasting relief. Plus, a gripping “Winner of the Week” rescue, show updates from the Motor City Hypnotist studio, and a quick adoption spotlight for Minnie from Detroit Dog Rescue. If you’ve been curious, cautious, or confused about antidepressants, this conversation gives you the clarity to move forward with confidence. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs straight answers, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Got a question we didn’t answer? Send it our way and we’ll tackle it next. FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    34 min

  7. FEB 19

    Emotional Intelligence, Explained Clearly - Part 2

    Send a text What if one small shift could turn tense conversations into genuine understanding? We dive into emotional intelligence part two and move from the inside out—starting with self-awareness and landing on practical empathy you can use today at home, at work, and online. We break down the difference between empathy and agreement, why limitless empathy leads to burnout, and how “listening to understand” changes the tone of any room. You’ll hear simple, repeatable tools: reflect what you heard, label the emotion you sense, and ask a curious follow-up that invites connection instead of defensiveness. We also get real about conflict—how to state needs clearly, repair after missteps with a sincere apology, and find common ground without caving on your values. Workplace dynamics get a spotlight with strategies for reading the room, giving precise feedback, and managing stress so it doesn’t spread. Then we tackle the digital trap: doomscrolling, algorithm bait, and knowing when to disengage. If the news is vital, it will reach you—so set guardrails and protect your emotional bandwidth. To help you build durable habits, we share daily reps that compound: one emotional check-in, one mindful pause before responding, and one empathetic question in every conversation. For deeper study, we point to Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence and the GLAD practice—gratitude, learned, accomplishment, delight—to train attention toward balance. If you want fewer blowups, better mornings, and calmer meetings, this one gives you clear steps to start right away. Listen, try the daily reps, and tell us what changed first. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find these tools. FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    31 min

  8. FEB 17

    Emotional Intelligence, Explained Clearly - Part 1

    Send a text Ever say the right thing in the worst way? We tackle emotional intelligence with practical tools you can use today to recognize what you feel, regulate your reactions, and connect without losing your cool. David R. Wright, the Motor City Hypnotist, breaks EI down to essentials—self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills—and shows how they play out at home, at work, and in your own mind. We start by making emotions visible. You’ll learn how body signals often arrive before thoughts and why naming precise feelings—embarrassed, dismissed, overwhelmed—can dial down intensity fast. From there, we move into strategies that turn conflict into clarity: a 90-second rule to ride the wave, simple breathing to reset your physiology, and a crucial pause before hitting send on that rage-text. For couples and teams, we share structured conversation rules—no interruptions, clear turn-taking, and I-statements—that lower defensiveness and surface the real issue, whether it’s respect, control, or fear of criticism. You’ll also hear why IQ isn’t enough when stakes are high and how emotionally intelligent leaders spot triggers, read body language, and respond with calm, specific language. We highlight a feel-good Winner of the Week about high school students repairing cars for single moms, and we close with a Detroit Dog Rescue spotlight for Cadju, a smirking charmer who needs a home. If you’re ready to swap reactivity for presence, build a richer emotional vocabulary, and make better decisions under pressure, this one’s for you. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a smarter way to handle hard moments. What’s one situation you want to navigate differently this week? FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!) Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Motor City Hypnotist Podcast discusses all things related to hypnosis, mental health, self-help and inspiration without the psychobabble. Come join us for fun, informative and entertaining content that you can use to improve yourself and make positive changes! David R. Wright is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Hypnotist/Hypnotherapist.  He has been in practice for 29 years and performs comedy hypnosis stage shows as The Motor City Hypnotist.

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