Reese Witherspoon says hypnosis has changed how she handles high anxiety, telling Las Culturistas that she used to experience panic attacks and relied on meditation but found it hard to stay focused. The Hello Sunshine founder described working with a hypnotist who practiced neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and who helped her see that she could perform at a steady level whether she was stressed or not. “Honestly, this sounds so crazy, but I worked with a hypnotist who did no medicine,” she said, explaining that hypnosis offered the same outcome as her prior medication without the sleepiness.
She described practical routines she adopted after sessions—talking to herself after completing tasks and giving herself a moment to absorb positive feedback—that she said ultimately reshaped her approach to anxiety and performance. “That actually changed my whole life,” Witherspoon added, emphasizing that anxiety is real and that many people struggle with it even if their lives appear glamorous from the outside.
The comments come as public interest grows around her friend Jennifer Aniston’s romance with hypnotist Jim Curtis, who has been identified in entertainment reporting as her partner. Reports out of the Daily Mail described Aniston and Curtis as “hot and heavy,” noting that the pair are closely aligned in interests such as meditation, yoga, therapy, and dogs. The nature of their relationship has become a talking point as the two appear frequently together and as their circles intersect with wellness practices the friends share.
Aniston has herself discussed hypnosis in a separate interview, telling Travel + Leisure in April that the technique helped her overcome a fear of flying. The report also noted that Aniston and Curtis are often seen together and that Curtis has previously dated public figures, including Bethenny Frankel, before his connection with Aniston drew significant attention. A source cited by the Daily Mail suggested the two are inseparable in daily life and generally remain in close contact when apart.
The renewed attention to wellness and performance comes as Apple Studios officially extended The Morning Show for a fifth season. The drama, a loose adaptation of Brian Stelter’s Top of the Morning, continues to center on workplace power, media dynamics, and personal lives of its newsroom characters. Witherspoon, who co-created Hello Sunshine, is slated to executive produce and reprise her role as Bradley Jackson in a 10-episode fourth season that premiered on Apple TV+. Reportedly, she earns around $2 million per episode for her work on the series. The fourth season continues to explore the merger-era aftermath at the fictional UBA network, two years after the UBA-NBN deal.
Beyond The Morning Show, Witherspoon remains active as a producer and performer across projects such as a Legally Blonde prequel for Apple TV+ and an HBO series revival in Big Little Lies. Her personal life remains a frequent subject of media interest, with her children from previous marriages continuing to feature in public discussions about her family life. Tennessee, her son with ex-husband Jim Toth, will soon turn 13, while she also shares daughter Ava Phillippe and son Deacon Phillippe from her earlier marriage to Ryan Phillippe.
As The Morning Show continues to evolve and the wellness conversations surrounding its star figures persist, Witherspoon’s experience with hypnosis adds another layer to the broader cultural conversation about managing anxiety in high-pressure careers. While critics and fans digest the show’s creative direction and star power, the industry watchers will also be watching how private wellness practices intersect with public performance in the celebrity ecosystem.