After I recently was involved in an accident, my editor suggested it could be fodder. No, was my first thought, but I changed my mind. 

Every morning, rain, snow or shine, I walk my dog for three miles, and then I ride my bike for three or four miles without the dog.

On a cold, crisp, sunny day, I was headed north along Beethoven, approaching the four-way stop at Short Avenue and Beethoven. I saw a car headed south on Beethoven. He stopped. I noticed a van approaching the intersection, going west on Short. The west-bound driver stopped, but he was not looking in my direction. Instead, he concentrated on the driver who had just stopped in the southbound Beethoven lane.

When I reached the intersection, I had the right-of-way and proceeded to cross. Gaining speed, I noticed the west-bound driver on Short still not checking in my direction even as he entered the intersection.

I was almost in front of him. If I braked, he would have hit me. As he drove forward, I veered to the left to avoid getting hit. Unfortunately, he still did not see me even though I had swerved into the southbound lane on Beethoven.
This apparently unconscious driver struck the back tire of my bike, sending me tumbling.

Most people in this situation would tense up, which could lead to serious injury.

Pressing the Right Keys

As a hypnotist, I have trained myself to speedily relax, which is how I responded on impact. Immediately, I was thrown from my bike. Keeping my body relaxed allowed me to roll without being forced to stop. On the second roll, though, I cracked my head on the pavement, ending up with several cuts and bruises, the worst of which were cracked ribs.

The driver heading south on Beethoven witnessed the entire incident. He jumped from his car and asked if I was okay. Probably, I said. But my ribs hurt badly. He said he was a cyclist, too, and I should not move but lie still while he called the paramedics.

The driver me hit me inquired about my condition, and I said he never looked in my direction. True, he admitted. He had been focusing on another car.

Unsurprisingly, a crowd gathered, and a kind lady asked if she could use her jacket as a pillow for me.

Since my neck was hurting, I declined. A second lady, identifying herself as a nurse, checked my pulse. She was surprised my heart rate was a steady, calm 60 beats a minute. My blood pressure hardly was elevated, the opposite of what happens in accidents. I explained that as a hypnotist I was using my skills to keep myself calm, my heart rate and blood pressure normal.

The paramedics were impressed. So were the ER nurse and ER doctor who examined me. I was hurting, though, but I declined painkillers, as I have techniques to control my pain.

Some Bruise. They Were Cracked.

When I was released from the ER, with nasty cuts, a sore head and extremely sore ribs, I thought my ribs were just badly bruised.  Turned out that after a visit to my regular doctor a short time later, he found three cracked ribs. I have have undergone multiple surgeries, including two on my back. Never, though, have I felt this level of pain.  As the days went by, my pain worsened.

Every ER will tell you that after a vehicle accident, injuries become more pronounced in the three days following the accident. Once again, they were right. More areas stiffened and hurt.

Injuries to the ribs are just darned unpleasant. One never realizes how much one’s chest muscles are used. Bending down, standing up, lying down, getting up, laughing, coughing – all cause pain.

When hurting, I stop thinking of what my injuries prevent me from doing. I focus on what I can do.

Pretty much everything, it turned out. But each movement was accompanied by startled gasps of pain. Even though it hurt like the dickens, I reassured myself no one ever died from pain. I accepted and relaxed again.

Tylenol 3 with codeine had been prescribed.  Didn’t help.

Concentrating on the painful areas did.

I am doing that today.

I still am seeing clients and walking my dog. I confess, though, I am taking a break from bike riding.

Valued Lesson

Hypnosis teaches us to relax, to visualize outcomes in a positive manner.
I do both, for myself and for clients.

I am visualizing a swift, pain-free recovery.

Happily when I am still, hypnosis eases the pain and helps me relax.

With self-hypnosis, I am confident my formula will succeed. Do not hesitate to contact me by telephone, 310.204.3321, or by email at nickpollak@hypnotherapy4you.net. See my website at www.hypnotherapy4you.net