“I don’t recognise myself anymore.”
It’s a phrase I hear often from clients recovering from injury, illness, or living with a persistent condition. Looking in the mirror can feel like a confrontation with a stranger—one who reminds you of what’s changed, what’s been lost, and how far away the “old you” feels.
This is one of the hardest parts of rehabilitation: not just rebuilding physically but navigating the emotional journey of identity. That sense of disconnection, of not recognising yourself, can anchor you in a place of grief and comparison. But progress comes not from looking back, but from letting go of self-comparison and embracing the journey ahead.
Why Do We Struggle with Self-Comparison?
It’s human nature to look to the past for comfort. Your pre-injury self feels familiar, capable, and whole—qualities you may feel you’ve lost. The mirror reflects not just your current physical state but your expectations and disappointments, too.
Grieving these changes is natural, even necessary. But when that grief turns into a habit of constant comparison, it can block progress. It keeps you tethered to “what was” rather than empowering you to focus on “what’s next.”
In my work, blending physiotherapy, hypnotherapy, and health coaching, I guide clients through this emotional terrain, helping them reconnect with themselves and let go of the weight of self-comparison.
How to Let Go of Self-Comparison in Rehabilitation
1. Acknowledge the Loss
It’s okay to feel sad or frustrated about the changes in your body and abilities. These emotions are valid, and ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. In health coaching sessions, I create a space for clients to process these feelings. Hypnotherapy often helps uncover and address deeper emotional blocks, making it easier to release the hold of “what could have been.”
2. Shift the Narrative
Instead of viewing your current self as “less than,” what if you could see yourself as evolving? Through guided reflection and relaxation techniques, we reframe the story you’re telling yourself. Rather than focusing on what’s missing, we focus on your strength, adaptability, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward.
3. Set New Goals That Honor Your Present Self
Goals that reflect your current abilities—not your past ones—are key to progress. Together, we define realistic, meaningful milestones, blending physiotherapy’s functional focus with coaching’s broader perspective. These goals provide a new framework for success that isn’t tied to the past.
4. Celebrate Each Step Forward
Every improvement, no matter how small, deserves recognition. Did you move with less pain today? Did you find the confidence to try a new activity? These moments matter. They’re proof that you’re capable of forging a new path, even if it’s rocky at first.
5. Reconnect with Your Body Through Self-Compassion
Hypnotherapy helps many of my clients reconnect with their bodies in a supportive, kind way. It’s not about pushing for perfection—it’s about appreciating what your body can do right now. This self-compassion builds the foundation for sustainable progress and self-acceptance.
Forging a New Path
Rehabilitation isn’t about becoming clients becoming their old self again. It’s about discovering who they are now and where they’re capable of going. Letting go of self-comparison doesn’t mean they forget the past; it means they stop letting it hold them back.
If a client has found themselves thinking, “I don’t recognise myself anymore,” I encourage them to look beyond the mirror. Together, we can create a new path that honours their journey, celebrates their progress, and helps them reconnect with the person that they are becoming.
As autumn unfolds and the vibrant energy of summer fades, I find myself drawn to the quiet cues of nature. After a bustling season, I savour the opportunity to slow down, intentionally taking stock of my recent projects and accomplishments. This isn’t always easy—just this past weekend, I felt a strong urge to dive back into work. Yet I resisted, knowing the value of honoring both purpose and recreation, rest and activity. Without this balance, burnout is inevitable.
When I first became a physiotherapist, I was passionate about helping people heal from injury, move freely, and regain their strength. I diligently applied my training, creating rehabilitation plans and guiding clients through exercise and manual therapy. But something always felt incomplete.
I began to realize that the purely physical approach wasn’t always enough. Some clients progressed, but others seemed stuck—no matter how carefully we adjusted exercises or targeted pain. That’s when I started to look deeper, beyond muscles, joints, and biomechanics.
It wasn’t just the what—the manual therapy or exercise prescription—that mattered. It was how I connected with clients, how I helped them tap into their own motivations, and how I supported them in addressing deeper emotional and mental barriers to recovery.
