What Are Subliminals, & Can They Help with Your Time of the Month?

Can subliminal messaging really influence your mood and behavior while "Aunt Flow" is in town?

Co-authored by Dev Murphy

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 References

Can you listen to subliminals on your period?

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What are subliminals?

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How to Use Subliminals

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Do subliminals work?

Subliminals—video or audio clips created to influence listeners through positive subliminal messaging—may not have much scientific evidence to back them up, but they’ve taken the world (or social media, anyway!) by storm lately. But what exactly are subliminals for, and can you listen to them whenever you want—say, for instance, while you’re on your period? We’ve got the answers, so keep reading to learn more about subliminals: what they are, whether they work, and when to use them.

Things You Should Know

Listen to subliminals while menstruating, while PMS-ing, while reading, while sleeping—pretty much whenever you want.
Use subliminals to try to alleviate certain period symptoms such as mood swings, but know that they’re unlikely to help with things beyond your control, like bloating or period flow.
Seek out subliminals targeted at helping you manifest certain goals, but be wary of subliminals that promise the impossible.
Remember that though subliminals are generally harmless, there isn’t much scientific evidence to suggest they actually work.

Section 1 of 4:

Can you listen to subliminals on your period?

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Yes, it’s totally fine to listen to subliminals on your period. In fact, a cursory TikTok or YouTube search can reveal an array of subliminals designed to help you with your time of the month. Different subliminals may be geared toward helping you alleviate period-related depression, irritability, or exhaustion.
- You can listen to subliminals on your period, or in the weeks leading up to your period to help with PMS.
- There’s really no time you can’t listen to subliminals, but certain activities (like reading or watching TV) may make it harder for your brain to absorb subliminal messaging.^{[1]
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Be wary of subliminals promising to lighten or jumpstart your period. While listening to meditative sounds, music, or affirmations may help alleviate period-related mood swings or exhaustion, take subliminals promising to alter your physical state or manifest something beyond your control with a grain of salt. Subliminals can influence your mood and behavior, but they can’t alter your physical state.
- That said, even though subliminals may not actually be able to change your physical state, your mood and behavior can. For instance, extreme stress could cause your period to be late, so listening to a subliminal to reduce stress may lead to you getting your period, but don’t count on this to happen.^{[2]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- There are lots of factors that contribute to the timing, length, and heaviness of your period, and many are beyond the influence of subliminals, such as weight loss, weight gain, pregnancy, or exercising too much. If you’re concerned about your period, speak to your doctor.^{[3]
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  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
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Section 2 of 4:

What are subliminals?

Subliminals are positive affirmations set to rhythmic music. Subliminals consist of barely perceptible encouraging phrases overlaid with soothing or energizing binaural beats or soundscapes. These manifestation tools may come in audio form only, or come in the form of a video and feature specific imagery designed to subconsciously influence your mood or behavior.^{[4]
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- Subliminals might include affirmative messaging like, “I am worthy,” “I am beautiful,” or “I am brave.” The positive messages hidden in subliminals can help your brain to subconsciously release negative thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve you.
- There are subliminals targeted at specific goals, like helping you to develop higher self-esteem or reducing stress levels. The imagery, music, and language used in the subliminal depends on the intended outcome.^{[5]
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- There are also subliminals targeted toward affecting situations beyond the listener’s control—for instance, clearing up acne, helping them lose weight, or becoming a TikTok star. These subliminals are less likely to work than ones targeted at mood.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Use Subliminals

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Seek out subliminals based on the goal you want to achieve. The Internet is full of subliminals designed to motivate listeners to behave or feel a certain way. Search social media or YouTube for subliminals to increase energy or self-esteem, to help you alleviate depression or anger, or to help you accomplish a number of goals.^{[6]
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- Be skeptical of subliminals promising to alter your physical state or manifest something beyond your control, or subliminals promising impossible results (like “becoming a mermaid”) or extremely specific outcomes (like “tiniest waist in existence + 11 abs”).
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Precede subliminals with flushes and boosters, if desired. You can dive right into listening to a subliminal targeted toward the goal you want to achieve, but some folks like to use a subliminal flush, which is a subliminal designed to clear your mind of the negative beliefs you’re currently holding there so that you can more easily accept new, more positive beliefs. Then, if you want, follow a flush up with a subliminal booster—a subliminal designed to increase the effectiveness of your actual subliminal.^{[7]
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- You can easily find subliminal flush and booster videos by Googling or searching YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram.
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Listen to your subliminal in a relaxed state. You can listen to subliminals pretty much any time, anywhere. The purpose of subliminals is to affect your subconscious mind, meaning that it doesn’t matter if you’re preoccupied with something else, like math homework or walking the dog. Your brain will still take in the subliminal messaging—but keep in mind that the more distracted your brain is from the subliminal, the harder it may be for it to absorb the messaging.^{[8]
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- To increase the odds of your subliminal working, visualize yourself achieving your goal.
- The more you listen to your subliminal, the more effective it’s likely to be.
- There are no specific rules regarding how long to listen to subliminals. Some people believe it’s best to take occasional breaks to avoid overwhelming your mind. Check in with yourself now and then to see how you’re feeling and if you’re up for more or just need some quiet.

Section 4 of 4:

Do subliminals work?

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Subliminals may alter moods and behavior, but not events beyond your control. Subliminal messages in the form of text, speech, or imagery have been known to influence people to feel, think, and act in different ways. But when it comes to things beyond your control, subliminals really have no proven effect—for instance, subliminals can’t make you start your period or change your blue eyes to brown eyes or make Harry Styles fall in love with you (would that they could!).^{[9]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Subliminals could also act as a placebo: for instance, while subliminals themselves can’t magically help you lose weight, listening to subliminals about weight loss may make you more aware of your weight, which may influence you to take actions that may help you lose weight.^{[10]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
- Subliminal messaging can influence you positively, but remember that it can also influence you negatively. Make sure to read the descriptions of any subliminal video you watch, and pay attention to its effects to make sure they’re what you want.
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Subliminals are more likely to work if you listen to them repeatedly. Subliminal messaging has been known to influence people in the immediate moment (for instance, if you see a picture of someone eating a popsicle, you might crave a popsicle). However, long-term receptivity to subliminals is unlikely unless you listen to the subliminal regularly.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- You can incorporate calming or energizing subliminal into your morning meditation practice or listen while you get ready for the day to bring you good vibes.