Venlafaxine and Hypnosis or Focused Attention in Treating Patients with Hot Flashes

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion * Women with a history of breast cancer (currently without malignant disease) or women who have no history of breast cancer but who wish to avoid estrogen due to a perceived increased risk of breast cancer * Women over the age of 18 who are postmenopausal and wish to avoid hormonal therapy to treat menopausal symptoms * Postmenopausal as defined by: 1. no menstrual period in the past 12 months; 2. no menstrual period in the past 6 months and an FSH level greater than 40; or 3. women who have had a bilateral oophorectomy * If women have had a hysterectomy and still have their ovaries, they must meet the FSH criteria described above * Note: We are excluding women of childbearing potential as this is a pilot trial and allowing women of childbearing potential with hot flashes to participate would introduce a hormonal heterogeneous population that would confound the ability to answer the research question * Bothersome hot flashes (defined by their occurrence \>= 28 times per week \[about 4 per day\]) and of sufficient severity to make the patient desire therapeutic intervention * Presence of hot flashes for \>=1 month prior to study entry * Life expectancy \>= 6 months * ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0 or 1 * Possession of a CD/DVD player or ability to play a CD Exclusion * Any of the following current (=\< last 4 weeks) or planned therapies: antineoplastic chemotherapy, androgens, estrogens, progestational agents, other herbal supplements, including soy (herbal teas from a store are allowed), or Warfarin (1 mg of daily warfarin is allowed for central line patency) * Tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors are allowed, but the patient must have been on a constant dose for \>= 4 weeks and ust not be expected to stop the medication during the study period * History of allergic or other adverse reaction to venlafaxine or SSRI's * Current or planned use of other agents for treating hot flashes * Use of venlafaxine or hypnosis in the past 6 months * Diagnosis of/problems with chronic diarrhea or history of bowel obstruction or esophageal stricture * Pregnant women or nursing women * Current or planned use of any type of antidepressants * Diagnosis of major depressive episode, acute anxiety disorder, liver or kidney dysfunction (defined by SGOT and creatinine levels 1.5 x upper limit of normal) as listed in the patient's medical history in the chart within the past year and by self report * Uncontrolled hypertension (defined as 3 consecutive readings over the past year of over 160 systolic, and over 100 diastolic)