Anyone else hate talking on the phone?

[Luv2Sleep]

Is it just me? Every time my phone rings and it's not someone i'm really close to like a sibling, I freak out. I hate it because I never know what to say and then there's those quiet moments and it's so awkward. I'd rather txt!

[Grandma]

If talking on the phone freaks you out, then by all means don't talk on the phone to anyone you don't want to talk to.  That's what Caller ID is for!

[Luv2Sleep]

True, but I don't want my friends to think i'm weird because I keep avoiding their calls.

[Grandma]

Why don't you explain to your friends that you don't like talking on the phone?  Lots of people feel this way, not just those with anxiety.  My son-in-law is perhaps the most emotionally stable person I have ever known, but if he talks on the phone for any length of time, he needs to lie down for a while to recover!

[Robyness]

I know exactly what you mean, I can't stand the awkwardness of it, but at the same time I can't stand appearing rude!

I have explained to most people that I am close to about this and they are quite used to it now.

When I came to university, I moved to the other side of the country and it proved a little bit of a problem, because my boyfriend wanted to talk to me properly but I just could not bring myself to talk on the phone to him.  I think its my fear of looking a fool and not knowing if I'm being laughed at if I can't see the other person.  He was really upst by it but no matter how bad I felt, I just couldn't say yes.

He's stopped contacting me so obviously my craziness is an issue for him!

[maigobob]

Thats why I miss living alone. If the phone rings and I can't deal with it, I could make fun of it by running away screaming.
Practically speaking, turn the ringer off and remember to check your voicemail. You do run the risk of not noticing the phone is unplugged

[29sillygirl]

You see you are not alone .  a phone is intrusive..demanding immediate attention no matter what mood you are in or what you happen to be doing at the moment.

The only phone I must have is my cell....little pay phone ..it keeps me calm as I can sit and text or worst case dial 911 if panic overtakes me at the mall .

My computer's ISP is AT&T.....so have to have phone at apt.....too many phones!!

[delilahking]

Unless it's my child or work (ok even the work ones I will stand and let the answering machine get and listen :p I will call back when I have an answer but dread making the call). If I am at work it's different-I have no problem talking business. I think it's a confidance thing for me as at work I know what is expected from me and limits, I have rights to what can be asked of me in some ways. Now if it's my mother calling when I am at home I never pick up-in my experience most people want something from me and don't take no for an answer very well. My brain locks up which is not by any means the best time to be making any promises. I find people will feel I am being rude or just silly as I just don't think fast enough for any kind of etiquette or answers coming from my anxiety ridden mush brain from the jolt of the phones ring.

[grouchy53]

i thought i was the only one....and weird......i looked it up, and there is a thing called phone a phobia.  i feel just as you do.  i hate talking on the phone, actually panic when the phone rings...have found that texting is a great way to get a message to people without using the phone.  it has helped me....as for people thinking i am weird for feeling this way, i just figure they think i am weird anyway....dont feel bad.....dont feel weird.....its a real fear, a real anxiety.....if you figure out a way to deal with it i would like to know and hope you post it.....

[FreneticCalm]

My phone used to panic me before, but has taken a back seat to my firealarm doorbell. It would be a kodak moment if both went off together, I would probably pass out.

[Tommy071]

I absolutely despise talking on the phone. It's awful. I guess exposure helps though. Just keep trying.

[MariaD]

i generally let the kids get the phone and if im not in the mood to talk i get them to say im asleep.or im busy or out ( not that the going out bit happens much)

[dullmoon]

 I am one for sure, I cant hold a phone convo for long..I thought I was the only one LOL , phone phobia. I sometimes turn my phone off completely if im bothered by a triggering call

[tigerpaw]

Why don't you explain to your friends that you don't like talking on the phone?  Lots of people feel this way, not just those with anxiety.  My son-in-law is perhaps the most emotionally stable person I have ever known, but if he talks on the phone for any length of time, he needs to lie down for a while to recover!

During the initial periods of my ANXIETY this was so like me............................grrrrrrrr rrrrrrrr..........so glad those days are behind me.

[waitohyeahwait]

I can't call anyone I dont know like a a cell phone provider or a store. Freaks me out so much.

[ToBeKnown]

I have actually lost a friend before because I refused to have phone conversations and she couldn't deal with it. I am perfectly willing to email or text. And I can have short conversations on the phone that are for a specific purpose and will be short. But I absolutely hate chit chatting on the phone - it takes A LOT out of me and it DOES feel intrusive as a pp stated. All of the friends I have now are fine with it. They know I hate talking on the phone and happily oblige my "crazy" by texting or emailing unless it is an emergency. Yay for friends who accept you.

[Chelsea fan]

Hi luv to sleep,i unplug my phone in the daytime and plug it back in at night,if you can't do that here is a tip i use to do i would run to the door answer the phone and ring the door bell, say sorry meter man is here got to go,if someone knocked at the door(i also suffer social phobia)i would say sorry they are out i'm their cleaner lol and if someone knocked at night i would say sorry they are out i am the babysitter,a friend came round a long time ago i was shaking so much i said you make yr coffee you know how you like it,we spend our lives making excuses for these ruddy demons only my family and my sense of humor left enjoy yr evening.

[Half_A_Person]

I do not talk to anyone except my parents on the phone. Once I had to call someone and I sat staring at the phone, crying, for a whole hour until I finally got the courage to dial the number. I sound like a 5 year old on the phone and I can never deal with those awkward silences.

[davidintel]

I dread hearing the phone ring, when I had friends I feared they wanted me to go over. I hate leaving the house.

[Horserider]

There are only two people that I will call willingly: my mom and my grandpa. I'm terrified to call anyone besides them, including family members, friends, and strangers even if it's really important. I rarely even get calls from anyone besides them because I don't give out my phone number for that reason. Caller ID is a great thing.

[Slackitude]

When the phone rings I ignore it. My wife has permission to talk to all my doctor's offices and make appointments, get medical information, etc. I never talk on the phone unless it's completely unavoidable and then only for short periods except on the rare occasions when I talk with my friend who now lives across the country, we've been friends since high school and can talk for hours. But that's it.

[revolution724]

I hate calling people.  Actually talking isn't so bad, but it kills me to have to pick up the phone and dial.  My mom's worse; she won't even call me, I have to call her.

[Bru]

I was told a simple bit of advice.  You should never feel you HAVE to do something you don't WANT to do.  In anxiety terms, you should never corner yourself.  If someone rings on the phone and you feel bad, hang up and text them that your phone signal broke and continue the conversation in text.  It is amazing how not feeling 'cornered' will make you feel much more relaxed and confident the next time.

[Carryon]

Having conducted so much business on phones, when the phone rings I assume trouble, like a fire dog. I don't feel cornered or anything like that but because I can see the person I don't like the medium very much; I can tell if the person is hearing or listening. What really annoys me is when someone calls who I have not heard from in a long...... time, and leaves non-descript message. I figure that if it's important he will back and they never do. I don't return those calls immediately because 90% of the time it's bad news that I can do without. I prefer to write letters. 

[Ialwaysworry]

I just realized how much anxiety the phone brings me, and yet my job is being on the phone all day. I am an inside sales rep and have to be on the phone to make a living. It's a huge struggle for me. I've been forcing it for years and can't stand to answer my personal phone outside of work. I do well at work surprisingly, which really makes no sense to me. I guess I just found a way to block the anxiety out while in the office environment. I wish I had an explanation for this.