How does it feel to be the unwanted subject of conversation among your peers? The answer is: Not good. It is important to us what others think about us. We see countless examples of high profile people being the subject of rumors in various tabloids; this is not something new. However when it hits home and this happens to you, it is not just an interesting story but this affects your life, this is personal, so very personal.
If you are walking through the personal challenge of dealing with a pregnancy while in school, Avenue Women’s Center would like to help you. Our free consultations are available in all of our locations: Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn / Lombard, Naperville, and Wood Dale, Illinois. Regardless of your age, our consultations are completely confidential. If you want to learn more, please text or call us today.
Should we act like we don’t realize people are talking about us? Or maybe we should just act like it doesn’t matter, let them say and or think what they want. What is the right way to address this? Let’s start with your attitude.
A good starting point is to realize your perspective that everyone is talking about you may be skewed. None of us are all that important that everyone is talking. It’s easy to believe that lie but it is rarely reality. Surely there are some people who have nothing better than to lift themselves up by talking about others but it is not global.
Secondly, the important thing is not what your peers think but what you think and how you feel about your pregnancy. It takes time to honestly reflect on this and come to terms with it. Pregnant or not you have value and worth as an individual and that hasn’t changed. It is important to talk through your feelings with someone older and experienced in life who has proven they care about you. It can be helpful to share your feelings and also listen with an open mind. You will most likely find your emotions are not reliable so try not to make decisions based on them. Especially during pregnancy, emotions will change from day to day, or moment to moment.
So how should you respond? I think that often people take their cue from the object of their attention. What I mean by that is if you walk around confidently with a positive attitude – your head high – your body language will be shouting loud and clear the message; I am comfortable with myself and my pregnancy. That attitude often douses the flames of gossip and negative talk. If you are asked about it, consider the relationship you have with this person as to your answer. Possibly if this is a distant acquaintance you may provide a short answer if any answer at all, while a close trusted friend you may choose to be open. It may seem silly but if you take time to write down several responses to the questions that may be asked it may help you be prepared so you don’t feel or look uncomfortable. The other option is to respond with a simple, confident statement: I would rather not talk about it.
In today’s culture with social media, it is important to weigh your words carefully. It may be wise to limit or eliminate social media so you don’t know what is being said; that may be a happier place to reside for now, and you certainly deserve peace at this time.
The good news for you is that you can and will get through this time. At Avenue Women’s Center, our commitment is to help you so that in the future, you’re able to look back at this time with pride, knowing that you made the best decisions you possibly could.
We offer some very practical free services, including medical-grade pregnancy tests and limited ultrasounds, which can be used to identify important medical information about your specific pregnancy. We also offer free private consultations, enabling you to gather and process whatever is important to you at this time. Some clients are leaning towards getting an abortion. Some are leaning towards continuing the pregnancy. Whatever you’re interested in discussing, we are here for you.
For confidential assistance with your pregnancy situation, please contact Avenue Women’s Center today.
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.