How can hypnosis influence pain?

Our attention has an enormous influence on how we perceive pain. This has to do with evolution and is important for our survival. When some thousands of years ago our ancestors were attacked by a wild animal and injured, they had either to flee or to fight in order to survive. In both cases they had to block out their pain, as otherwise it would have represented too much of a distraction and it would have reduced their chances of survival. Even today, we might block out our pain in extreme situations, if it is necessary for our survival.
Clinical hypnosis can support us in applying this ability when dealing with chronic pain and so enable us to manage our pain more effectively.