Phone calls.

joshposh · Jul 10, 2016

Before there were cellphones and caller ID, there was always a thought of "who could it be"? It could possibly be someone you didn't want to talk to. There was a lot of anxiety back then and the only way around it was when the answering machine was invented. All of a sudden you could hide behind a voice recording and screen your calls. But this day and age you have the cell phone. Most of it is texting anyways. So if someone calls, then you I'm always suspicious. That's why I never answer and text reply whoever is calling.

fuzyon · Jul 10, 2016

Yup, I especially hate phone calls when there are people in the room because I feel like they're judging what I say and how I act, it's pretty awkard so I end up not even responding to the call. In general I'm pretty anxious when I'm on the phone because I don't know what to do while I'm talking, I know it's a pretty dumb concern but it's true. It's also easier to take things I say back if I'm texting so..

amy88 · Jul 10, 2016

I get anxious with both video and audio calls. I prefer to just type - I think the reason behind it is that I can gather my thoughts easier when I'm typing - I have a moment to think about things before I put words to a page...but when you're face to face (or on an audio call) with someone, you don't have that time to think about your responses - everything needs to be immediate. And that can be hard for me.

Most of my loved ones know that if they want a quick reply from me, that they just need to text....otherwise their calls may just go unanswered.

RichE8475 · Jul 10, 2016

A year and a half ago a lot of things started to go downhill for me. I started having more and more panic attacks, I was stressed constantly, I lost my job, lost my relationship of five years, I had to let my car be repossessed, and the murder of my sister. For some reason I have become fearful and anxious about car doors shutting, someone knocking at the door, and I even would panic to check the mail. It seemed like everything was always bad news. I, eventually, cancelled my cell phone because I had panic attacks when the phone would ring. I am glad you made a post about this topic, because I really thought I was the only person going through this issue. Everyday I think that I have to be the craziest person in the world. I, however, have gotten better. There are days when I am able to make a phone call, and even walk to the mailbox. amy88 I also prefer to text or type what I need to say, because it allows me to read what I wrote and change what I would need to. Unfortunately, it is the responses from whomever is at the other end that makes me nervous. Questions like, Did I say something wrong? What if I made them mad? I wish there was a way I could learn to stop mt mind racing with all of this insanity.

kelden · Jul 11, 2016

You are not the only one. And is not so uncommon I remember doing a job interview by phone, I was so anxious and stuttered a lot, so as you can figuera it out already, didn't land the job. My first and last phone interview, my experience wrecked my confidence bad and right now never tried that thing again. In any case, yes, phone calls can be a source of anxiety even for regular people, specially if it's important. An unexpected call can be either good or bad news, and We have to get through that someday, so its better to not really make a deal out of that, if something happened, it already happened, freak out doesn't help at all

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John Snort · Jul 11, 2016

I never give my number to a lot of people and any time I get a call and the caller can't be identified, I will not take the call and I'll block calls from that number. I believe that taking such measures would block the creeps, telemarketers and other unsavory characters who might call to scam or harass you. That said, like fuzyon, I hate making calls when there's an audience around.

Xzreplays · Jul 11, 2016

I get anxious at taking calls as I feel like I will make a mistake when I'm communicating to them. Whenever I pick up the phone, whether I know the person who is on the line or not, I always think to myself "you are going to mess up". I always feel like my mind will go blank and I will stutter. However whenever I talk on the phone I don't mess up however, I always have that thought before I pick up the phone, which is weird.

shcoo · Jul 11, 2016

I hate phone calls because they are so unpredictable. I feel I am much better "on paper" where I can plan out my thoughts before submitting them or saying them. I like texting.

I also refuse to chat on the phone with friends. I feel rude if I do ANYTHING else while speaking on the phone, like if I am distracted and not giving the speaker my full attention, yet I also feel lazy and anxious if I am just sitting on the phone and not multitasking. So it's a paradox.

jaden11218 · Jul 12, 2016

I really hate phone calls. If it isn't a close friend or family member calling then I will not answer. I also won't make phone calls either. I always have to get someone else to call to schedule doctor appointments, or call if I have issues with my bank, or anything. I think it may be because I can't see who it is, so I can't see their reactions to know if I sound stupid.

lydiag75 · Jul 12, 2016

I have been trying to get myself to call the companies I applied to all day and it is now 3 PM and I haven't even called one of them. Phone calls have been hard for me for as long as I can remember but it's even worse when I have to talk to adults or someone I feel is in authority. I'm not sure how to explain how I deal. I guess I either don't deal and avoid calls or I eventually force myself once it is becoming critical that I make the call.

Eva · Jul 12, 2016

I know even people without anxiety do not like to talk on the phone, so you are not alone. I do have anxiety and hate talking on the phone. It is always difficult for me to even answer a phone call. However, I do not answer unless I know who the person is. But I have a difficult time talking on the phone even when I know the person.

kgord · Jul 12, 2016

Phone calls don't bother me that much but my parents will very rarely initiate phone calls, and that drives me crazy They are both so introverted that they will not reach out to people, and it is pretty sad really.

I am tired of being the one always tasked with calling. I am middle aged..and they are not going to change now..but I am tired of the game. I really resent it. I guess anxiety may be a factor in why they don't do it but I am their DAUGHTER. Some calls are worth making. I would not let anxiety be a factor in my relationship with my kids, even though I have some of the same tendencies. I know my nephews really don't like talking on the phone,,and my son doesn't either.

Moroccanbeauty2266 · Jul 13, 2016

Before working in the field of telecommunication I had a really hard time to overcome that fear of not knowing who is on the other line and worried about not responding properly.

I like to avoid phone calls, if possible, especially if the caller is unknown I get very anxious.

fuzyon · Jul 13, 2016

I have a pretty similar issue, it's not dumb at all. When the phone rings, especially my cell phone and I'm in a public place I'm always self conscious of what am I saying and I have seen people leaving the public space to go and talk to a place when there's not people around and it seems to be a great option, but the fact that people are going to think that I'm leaving the place and the looks that I'm going to get from them doesn't make that option a good one for me.

Yeah, that's my issue as well. For example, if I'm in a crowded vehicle like a bus I don't answer my phone at all because I feel like people are going to stare at me and judge me. I've been trying to convince myself that I'll never see those people again in my life and that everything is fine, but it takes a while to make your mind adapt to this statement.

redpanda · Jul 13, 2016

Phone calls are awful for me. I put off making important calls for far too long because I get so anxious worrying about what I'm going to say etc. I hate that I can't predict exactly how the conversation is going to go and I need to come up with responses on the spot. Like a few others mentioned, I also get weird about answering my phone in front of people. It can be a close friend and I still won't do it because I worry about them listening to what I'm saying. I'll leave the room just to order pizza (I'm loving online pizza ordering, haha). If I really, really need to make a phone call, I just dial the number and force myself. I know I won't hang up or anything so just dialing the number gets me started.

nytegeek · Jul 13, 2016

I wont even answer the phone anymore. It doesn't matter who is calling or where I am. Also, frequently I will respond with text messages and only call back if that is my only option.

vegito12 · Jul 14, 2016

I think with telephone calls you can be wandering who it is and if it is about paying a bill it can cause stress as you may not have the funds to clear the debt straight away and can only hope you can pay little by little each week, as you don't want to spend a huge amount on paying the bills and have little left over after paying that and it can be sort of embarrassing when you have others with you and you have to leave the room so they don't hear the conversation. When talking on the phone you don't know how the other person will respond and can hope they are in a good mood and don't demand a lot from you or ring late at night or early in the morning which can make you irritated as you are trying to sleep and relax, sometimes you can have marketing companies who want to do surveys and it can be at the worse time and usually I tell them to ring back if I have the time to talk to them at a later stage. I usually try and hope it is not someone who is going to waste my time and they have a good reason if it is at night or early in the morning as that is not usually a good time if you are not in a good mood or not feeling well which can make you hope the conversation is short and you can get on with what you are trying to do at the time.

richj8am30 · Jul 14, 2016

I'm not sure if this has been posted here before, but I feel that it would be good to talk about it.
I get really anxious when it comes to phone calls, I'm not even sure why, it doesn't really happen to me with video calls... Just the fact of thinking that I don't know who is on the other line makes me feel more anxious. It may be related to the few phone extortions and really creepy calls that I have received before... I really need to work on that because phones calls will not disappear soon.

Does anyone else is dealing with the same issue? How do you deal with phone calls in general?

I never realized that maybe I had anxiety but I used to cringe at the thought of having to talk on the phone when I was younger. Maybe I grew out of it, but I remember being so nervous about it back in the day that girls would ask for my number and I would always tell them that it was off. I got really better about things that made me nervous through meditation. I guess it was all in my head.

Phone calls.

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