Using The Phone

[Dreek Lass]

I'll just come right out and say that I despise using the phone. I have always had a level of phone anxiety, and other kinds of anxiety, but not the other types of anxiety that I had have gone since I went to therapy, but this phone anxiety remains. I HATE using the phone. I cannot express that enough. I'll only use it to make calls and receive them if I HAVE to, and it is such a struggle. It doesn't help that I have now developed a stutter, and now the experience is ten times more embarrassing and difficult.

I recently met up with a few friends that I haven't seen in ages, they took my number, and now one of them has been wanting to call me after they got home after a long day and talk for hours, but I REALLY don't want to because talking on the phone is so uncomfortable.

Does anybody else avoid the phone like the plague?

 

[DaBlink182]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I'd much rather just send a text than call someone or pick up the phone. I suppose it has something to do with the awkwardness of phone calls. I hate having to ask people to repeat themselves on the phone, because most of the time, I still don't understand a word. And then there's the weird goodbyes on the phone. Ugh everything about it just makes me uncomfortable. Whenever I get called I just let it go to voicemail and if it's really important they'll leave a message or call again.

 

[ReadmeByAmy]

Sometimes it is annoying if I see a certain number calling on my phone that is not in my phone list. There is one instance when a certain number called me 10 times that day but I do not care to answered that call. I do not know how they get my phone number. My husband told me that never answer if you do not know who is calling. And knowing the fact that I only gave my number to only few people I know. And also I am not that type who will use the phone for long conversations just to waste my time but rather I send messages if I have to discuss an important matter for my families and close friends only. Other than that I am avoiding using the phone

 

[Sarah676]

I COMPLETELY relate to this. It's so weird - I get so much more nervous about talking over the phone than I do about talking in person. It's not so much with personal phone calls, but if I have to call up a business to inquire about something, or book a table reservation or something like that, I get SO nervous. My heart actually starts beating really fast and I get filled with adrenaline like I'm being chased by a bear. D:

Telephone phobia is actually a recognized phobia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_phobia

 

[Chrisuren]

Leaving a message on the answer machine of someone you don't know is the most traumatic thing in the world.

 

[BelgianRockfan2]

Yeah, I get this. Though I don't mind as much when someone calls me instead of the other way around. The fact that the speakers on my phone barely work and I can hardly understand what the other person is saying doesn't really help either.

 

[butterflylover]

Not really,but I do like to text more then talking on the phone.

 

[Dreek Lass]

Yeah, I get this. Though I don't mind as much when someone calls me instead of the other way around. The fact that the speakers on my phone barely work and I can hardly understand what the other person is saying doesn't really help either.

It just depends on what frame of mind I am in, but calling other people is usually the worst source of anxiety for me. People calling me is hard to, but I haven't had to go through the anticipatory anxiety of waiting for them to pick up so it is not as bad. But I don't like surprises and I have spontaneous friends who just like to spring a phone call on me. I don't like planned calls either, because then I am counting don the time until the phone call is due and that is also stressful.

 

[Josie]

Dreek.. I think we should get tested for sisterhood or something lol.