Phone calls.

[Laneorexorcist]

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.

I can relate completely, when I was in middle school I used to get a lot of really creepy phone calls, it was a weird voice saying "hello" repetitively... It stoped in a few days but I remember clearly to be terrified to answering phone calls, and sometimes when I was on my own I used to unplug the phone because I was just so anxious to receive a call.

 

[justsayyes]

I get anxious too whenever i get a call from an unidentified number, i always think of the worst when it happens and most of the time, i don't pick up the call. My reasoning is, if it's really important, they will find a way to contact me somehow. If it's someone i know, they will know how to get a hold of me, there are many way nowadays like social media and other messaging apps.

 

[cthompso87]

It's good to know I'm not the only one who struggles with this impractical aversion. I regularly leave my phone on silent and let the battery die so I don't have to worry about it. I also have a hard time listening to my voicemails, I don't know what I'm worried I'm going to hear, they are almost always just hang ups, but I will let them build up until my mailbox is almost full. At my last job I did spend a lot of my time on the phone speaking with customers, which didn't bother me at all. Calls from friends and family however, different story.

 

[Sue]

I have a post similar to this also. Phone calls have always been an issue for me for as long as I can remember. It causes me great anxiety. I rarely answer my phone. I let it ring and if it is important they will leave a message. I also tell people to message me on Facebook or email me and I will get back to them. Anything to avoid talking on the phone. It doesn't matter if it is family, friends or a complete stranger I just can't handle phone calls whether incoming or outgoing.

 

[judyd1]

Even on television, though, when someone gets a call, they look at the caller ID, look around and then say: Excuse me, I've gotta take this....and then walk away. So I think it's pretty widely accepted. I'm always worried, too, about missing an important call. Almost OCD about it when I'm expecting a call. I will check the messages, the text messages, and the list of calls for the past 2 or 3 days thinking that I can find where they've already called and I just missed it for some reason.


I'm actually pretty good on the phone and I don't mind talking when I've got something to say. But most of the time, I am perfectly fine with no phone. Just leave me alone. I really have to fight that tendency to become a hermit. I want communication on MY terms. And sometimes, that means NONE. Sheesh, what is wrong with me? I thought people were social creatures.

 

[Casm1ra]

It's a common issue. A lot of people I know avoid phone calls like the plague because they are afraid of it being awkward, so I don't think there's anything wrong with getting anxious over not knowing who is calling. I get that same feeling, especially when it's a number I don't recognize or if it's private. Heck, I remember last month being paranoid because I kept getting random numbers calling me every other day and when I would pick up, I'd hear the same background noise but the person wouldn't answer! I've been wanting to change my number since.


Some days I'll be bold and pick up out of pure curiousity. Other days, I'll stare at the screen, contemplating whether or not I should answer until it ultimately hangs up on its own. A lot of people don't seem fond of leaving voice mails these days, so I may send them a text message asking who it is or what they need [if it's someone I know]. Otherwise, I can't be bothered. If it's important, they'll make an effort to clear on their information.

 

[hades_leae]

I noticed many years ago when I started talking on the phone with peopel for business, I started to stutter. This was my problem because I was not used to talking to anyone other than my friends, and family on the phone. Naturally I always told myself that I needed to be professional when I talk on the phone with companies about whatever, like calling an electricity company to get my lights on in my new apartment, or phone service calls, etc.


I would stutter because I felt so intimidated by the voice of the caller, it was like I was freezing up as well. As I got older, I got over it thought. That lasted me for quite some time. I guess I was transitioning from teenager to adulthood.

 

[bangtanboys]

Yeah no, I totally feel you. I think it's the idea of not being able to connect a voice to a face that freaks everyone out about phone calls. And if you have social anxiety like me, there's a deeper pressure to keep a conversation going. Otherwise it's just going to be a bunch of awkward silences and "what are you doing's." Funny, because I never had a problem with phone calls when I was younger. Then again, I also didn't know of the luxury of texting and instant messages either.


What helps when I do have to take a call or make a call with a stranger is that they don't know who you are either. And chances are, you're never going to talk to them again.

 

[It'sJaz]

I don't have caller ID. Hate getting phone calls even if I knew who's calling. I won't pick up unless I really have to, I'll much rather people text me instead.

 

[Surrender]

I agree phone calls are really difficult for me. Anyways nobody even really talks on the phone socially anymore, do they? Or have I just lost touch with all the people who do talk socially on the phone? Lol.


Well even calling to make an appointment is very difficult for me - I procrastinate for weeks on picking up the phone and calling. Strangely though once I do call, I am fine on the phone, it is just the anxiety leading up to agreeing with myself that I am going to do it. It's weird.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

Yeah no, I totally feel you. I think it's the idea of not being able to connect a voice to a face that freaks everyone out about phone calls. And if you have social anxiety like me, there's a deeper pressure to keep a conversation going. Otherwise it's just going to be a bunch of awkward silences and "what are you doing's." Funny, because I never had a problem with phone calls when I was younger. Then again, I also didn't know of the luxury of texting and instant messages either.
What helps when I do have to take a call or make a call with a stranger is that they don't know who you are either. And chances are, you're never going to talk to them again.

I know right? I also didn't have this issue back when I was a kid, I'm not really sure if I wasn't aware of how awkward they can be or even all the dangers that they can involve.


And also, the other day I had a job interview on the phone, it was extremely stressful, as if a job interview wasn't bad enough a job interview is worst in my opinion, you can't see the person face or read their reactions directly... phone calls in general are really awkward no matter how you see it, lol.

 

[judyd1]

Texting is so much easier!


I'm glad someone came up with texting, a cross between emailing and phoning. It lets you choose when and how you want to have communication with people.


It really lets you be in control, in charge of how much and how often you have to deal with others.


Plus, if you even want to, or feel like communicating with someone.


We all have our good days and our bad days. Texting allows us to be more in control of our circumstances on both of those kinds of days.


As an additional perk: you can text exactly how you feel, and then go back and edit, add or delete the message entirely.