A secret CIA “cheat code” – revealed in a declassified document from 1977 – has left viewers “freaked out” by its ability to “make pain go away”.
Psychology graduate Stephanie Forlini, from the US, shared a TikTok video explaining how she came across the “interesting” technique – in which a five-digit code is used to reduce feelings of pain in the person who uses it.
Forlini said the code was developed by the Monroe Institute of Applied Science as part of the CIA’s Gateway Program – a training system which used meditation-like techniques combined with sound technology to facilitate altered states of consciousness.
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WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: ‘Secret code’ to reduce pain.
The unusual method was apparently a type of training the CIA used in their research to “expand consciousness”.
“One of their techniques for their daily life… I tried, it worked and it freaked me out,” Forlini said in a resurfaced video.
The Gateway Intermediate Workbook claimed that to alleviate pain, you need to repeat the number 55515 in your head.
“This right here is how to reduce pain signals,” she explained.
The method involves shutting your eyes and focusing on the part of your body which is the “source of the pain signals”.
“So you’re going to visualise the part of your body that’s in pain,” she said.
“And you’re going to repeat the number ‘55515’.
“When you do these two things – the pain signals will slowly reduce until they are no longer important.”
Forlini said she had her “mind blown” when she noticed the method worked for her.
“So by saying ‘55515’ and thinking of the area that’s in pain, it stops the pain,” she said.
“I’m just shook.”
‘Legit works’
Her video has been viewed more than 6.7 million times – with many claiming the technique worked after repeating the code.
“I was in pain all day. This legit worked. I am shook,” one claimed.
Another shared: “I always have the worst period cramps and I used this a couple of minutes ago and they are GONE.”
One said: “Yo I’m tripping out – it WORKS.”
Another suggested: “So I busted my elbow at work today – I work construction – and after trying the 55515 method – it actually worked.”
One added: “Ok my back is always in constant pain and it was hurting so bad… and I said this and it’s gone.”
Another claimed: “The way this instantly fixed my headache… I’m scared.”
While one revealed: “Okay, I’m freaking out. I have lower back pain and now… the pain went away.”
However, not everyone was convinced.
“I did this because my back was hurting. Didn’t work,” one said.
Placebo effect?
Meanwhile, some suggested the technique could simply be a placebo effect.
“People act like they don’t know about the placebo effect,” one suggested.
But one person quickly pointed out: “Regardless if it’s because the code worked or just because of the placebo effect, the person is still feeling less pain! So in my opinion, the move was a success.”
According to Victoria’s Department of Health, the placebo effect is when a person’s physical or mental health appears to improve after taking a placebo or treatment that appears real, but is designed to have no therapeutic benefit.
The placebo effect is triggered by the person’s belief in the benefit from the treatment and their expectation of feeling better, rather than the characteristics of the placebo.
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