The Day My Bike Accident Taught Me the True Power of Self-Hypnosis

Cycling in Copenhagen last year - no accidents that day!

As a clinical hypnotherapist, I've spent hundreds of hours helping clients tap into the incredible power of their minds to reduce anxiety and overcome challenges, including managing pain. I have been privileged to support clients to make dramatic changes (and experienced some for myself), but nothing prepared me for the day I had to put hypnosis to the ultimate test.

Last week's bike ride started off like any other. I had cycled for a coffee with a friend, and was returning home on a designated cycle path, enjoying the fresh air and the familiar gentle rhythm of being on my bike. Seemingly out of nowhere, a car pulled out from a driveway right in front of me without stopping. The impact was sudden and forceful... I was knocked off my bike, flew across the bonnet, and landed hard on the pavement on the other side.

The injuries were not insignificant: a broken finger and a compression fracture in my spine from landing on my head (thankfully wearing a helmet). The pain was immediate and overwhelming, but the real ordeal was yet to come. Paramedics arrived within 45 minutes and transported me to the hospital on a backboard, keeping me completely flat to protect my spine. Ambulance staff and the medical team both communicated a problem; they couldn't administer pain relief right away. I couldn't sit up to take anything orally, and despite multiple attempts, they couldn't get a cannula into my veins.

Once I arrived at hospital, the swelling in my broken finger meant my rings were stopping circulation. They had to be removed immediately... by cutting them off, with no pain medication possible. I won't sugarcoat it, the pain was excruciating. But as I lay there on the hospital bed while the doctor went off to get the cutting tools, I realised straight away what would help me in that moment; self-hypnosis.

I asked for my phone and played one of my own hypnosis MP3 recordings (the ones I create for clients to listen to each night). I combined it with techniques I teach often: including deep breathing to calm my nervous system, and the 3-3-3 grounding technique (naming three things I could see, three things I could hear, and three things I could feel) to shift my focus away from the intense sensations.

These methods helped redirect my brain's attention from the amygdala (the fear and pain centre) to the prefrontal cortex, where logical thinking and coping reside. It wasn't about ignoring the pain entirely, but about changing my relationship to it, making it more bearable, giving me control in a situation where I had none physically.

It took about 40 minutes for them to carefully cut off the rings. It felt like a long time! But it worked. The hypnosis and grounding techniques genuinely reduced the intensity of what I was feeling. I stayed calmer than I ever thought possible, breathing through each wave.

Of course, this isn't an experience I'd ever want to repeat! My hand is healing quickly but the recovery from the spinal fracture is going to take time, and I'm grateful for the wonderful ambulance and hospital staff who helped me. But here's the silver lining: going through this has deepened my understanding of what my clients face. I can now relate on a profound, personal level to those dealing with acute pain, medical procedures, or trauma. When I guide someone through hypnosis for pain management, I know firsthand how powerful it can be, even in the worst moments.

The mind is so extraordinary. Hypnotherapy isn't magic; it's a proven way to access our innate ability to influence perception, reduce stress, and promote healing. My accident reinforced that more than any textbook or training ever could.

If you're struggling with pain, anxiety, or the aftermath of an injury, know that tools like self-hypnosis and grounding techniques are accessible to everyone. They're skills you can learn and use when you need them most. The power of hypnotherapy still blows my mind, and now, more than ever, I'm passionate about sharing it.

(Note: Always consult medical professionals for injuries and pain management. Hypnosis is a complementary tool that supports conventional care.)