Is Evidence-based Medicine a Joke?

The medical profession often brings to mind the image of the proverbial ostrich: burying its head in the sand, hoping problems will disappear. While doctors claim to practice evidence-based medicine, there is a glaring oversight when it comes to mental illness. They routinely ignore the growing evidence that our thinking itself is a hypnotic process—that we are, in a sense, continually self-hypnotising through our inner dialogue. The profession’s lack of understanding about hypnosis and its mechanisms results in a reluctance to investigate this mystery. Rather than exploring how ego and self-hypnosis shape mental states, many in the field shy away, perhaps because it requires confronting their own egos. This avoidance is neither scientific nor professional.

Few people realise that hypnosis underlies our thinking process. Most are unaware that they are already in a state of self-hypnosis—our egos cannot surface in our conscious minds without words, and these words are the products of self-hypnosis. The ego, in its relentless drive for control, uses thinking as its primary tool to dominate our awareness. This can become obsessive, which is why so many feel unable to stop thinking. Hypnosis, at its core, is the way we guide our subconscious mind.

But how do we hypnotise ourselves with our thoughts? Notice how thinking involves an internal dialogue—we talk to ourselves, giving shape to feelings and ideas through words. These words, in turn, hypnotise us. If we stopped verbalising internally, those thoughts and feelings would lose substance; they would fade away. Our subconscious operates through conditioned reflexes, and every word we use is linked to these reflexes. Negative words trigger negative chemical responses in the brain, while positive words trigger positive ones—the meaning of the words is less important than their conditioned impact.

As a result, our constant mental chatter keeps us in a hypnotic state. Our mood at any moment is shaped by the balance of chemicals evoked by these words. Feeling low is often the result of prolonged negative self-talk, while feeling upbeat reflects positive internal dialogue.

It’s crucial to remember that our perceptions influence our thoughts, and our thoughts shape our actions. Distorted perceptions lead to distorted thinking, which in turn leads to problematic behaviors. From this perspective, mental illness is rooted in negative self-hypnosis arising from these distortions.

Currently, the medical model labels mental illnesses based on symptoms and behaviors but fails to offer patients insight into their thinking processes. The underlying patterns remain untouched, and the diagnostic label can become a justification for ongoing problems, rather than a path to understanding or change.

On Preventing Suicide

A recent article in the Australian Doctor forum (11 March 2026) highlighted the challenges GPs face when caring for patients with persistent suicidal thoughts, especially when specialist services are unavailable. In response, I commented: ‘When we think, we are hypnotising ourselves. When we think, we are talking to ourselves. If we say negative things to ourselves, we will feel negative. If we say positive words, we will feel positive. Our subconscious mind responds to words, not their meaning, in a conditioned way. So people who commit suicide are the ones who talk themselves into committing suicide. Because if you keep thinking that way, one day your subconscious mind will make you do it. I would like you to please be aware of the words you use in your mind. Try replacing negative words with positive ones.” etc.

Could this type of message help people with persistent suicidal ideation and help prevent suicide?”

Apart from a single supportive comment from a GP, there was no response from psychiatrists—even though medical professionals themselves are at high risk of suicide. Isn’t it time for the profession to acknowledge its responsibility and develop a real understanding of hypnosis?

Please note: Anyone who ignores my observations will only succeed in cutting off their nose to spite their face.