How The ‘Placebo Effect’ Works In Your Daily Life (And What To Do About It)

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Through the Looking-Glass; Lewis Carroll)

It is well documented in tribal societies that someone who believes they are cursed by a witch doctor will often fulfill this belief and die. Cursing someone in this manner is called ‘pointing the bone’.

Various tests of placebos and drugs have produced similar staggering results. In one test medical students were given amphetamines and barbiturates. However, the students who thought they were receiving amphetamines were given barbiturates and vice versa.

What is fascinating is that the students reacted to the drug they thought they took. Those who took uppers (but thought they took downers) found themselves to be tired. The rest who actually took barbiturates (but thought they took amphetamines) found they had extra energy. Though they actually took an authentic drug they physically responded in the opposite manner in alignment with what they thought they ingested.

As Deepak Chopra notes, “Belief is the drug.”

Studies on placebos have continuously produced results consistent with a patient’s belief. Cancer patients who were told they were taking a radiation pill were also told the drug had the side effect of hair loss. Sure enough, even though they took a placebo, their hair fell out in accordance with their belief.

Whether a curse by a witch doctor or the promise of a pill; people react with what they believe is supposed to happen. When we strongly believe something we send a command to our nervous system which responds in kind.

How does this apply to daily life? While many cultures don’t have witch doctors, we all have people that knowingly or unknowingly ‘point the bone’ when they share criticism and limiting beliefs. If we take these comments as commands we will find ourselves responding to someone else’s expectations.

Maybe it is a criticism about what we can or can’t accomplish. Maybe that remark is a shot at our self-esteem. The point to remember is that if we are not careful, we could find ourselves believing things that are not true.

Whether it be from a parent, peer, teacher, politician or a so called “expert”, be careful what you accept as possible and take into your belief system. There are plenty of people that talk about what can’t be done.

You are capable of far more than you realize. Don’t let someone else’s limiting belief become yours. As Natasha Bedingfield sings, “Surround yourself with friends who only call you a superstar.”