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Most people are at least a little uncomfortable about speaking to their doctors about their smoking. Sometimes people are intimidated by their doctor's training and knowledge. Sometimes people feel that their doctor is "too busy to listen". Other people don't want to bother their doctor with a problem that is "too small" or "too silly".
Problems such as smoking and pregnancy seem especially private and personal. Most people are embarrassed to admit that they are still smoking while they are pregnant. Some people think that if they have to get help to quit smoking then they must be a "weak", "defective" or "broken" person. For all of these reasons and more people often decide not to talk to their doctor about important problems. In fact, many people walk away from their doctor's office without having talked to their doctor about what they really wanted to talk about.
You may be nervous or uncomfortable about discussing your smoking addiction with your doctor. Your anxiety about talking to your doctor may also prevent you from getting the help you need. When you start getting anxious about discussing your smoking with your doctor, remember these facts:
- Your doctor is not "too busy" to listen to your concerns about your health.
- Your doctor wants to help and has been trained to help.
- Your concerns about smoking are not "too small" or "too silly".
Some people might have grown up thinking they could just "snap out of it" and "quit cold turkey", so they are embarrassed to bring it up. But now we know that smoking and pregnancy is a serious problem that can result in many long-term effects on your and your baby's physical health. Your doctor knows that smoking and pregnancy are serious problems.
Most people say that getting help was the hardest thing they ever did. Most people also say that getting help was the best thing they ever did. Talking to your doctor is the first step towards getting control of your smoking addiction. Most people feel at least a little better right away, just from telling their doctor about their smoking addiction.
Copyright 2003 by the Panic Center. Used by permission.