Being a professional does not always mean that those closest and dearest to us will take the advice or recommendations we give them. It may seem odd that a family member may not adhere to the medical advice given to them by a doctor in their family, but rather another doctor or even goggle! So how come we, as professionals, are not taken seriously enough by our families and/or friends when it comes to us giving them advice, referrals and/or suggestions?

Sometimes it’s as simple as they do not see us as these professionals in the way in which our patients and colleagues do. Maybe to them we are still that young child who doesn’t know anything. But more than that it may be that we have crossed some sort of invisible line that is set in the unconscious.