Phone Phobia - I wish I could get past this

[Jeatyn]

I hate using the phone, I always have. When I know I need to make a call, or am waiting to receive a call, I am filled with dread and get horribly nervous. The phone ringing makes me jump and puts me in to a mild panic xD if it's somebody I'm comfortable with like my partner or my sister it's no problem...but anybody else is just eugh.

For the most part, in the computer age we live in, not using the phone is extremely easy. Lately however, I have managed to bag myself a couple of clients who I'm doing some web design for. Two of them have decided they would rather call me to discuss business rather than just email me. I've given them both my number as I figured it wouldn't be good for my career to say "no sorry, I don't do phones"

The longer I wait for them to call, the more nervous I get. Can anyone relate or offer any advice? I think I'm mostly making this thread to distract me from waiting for the phone to ring

[KayCeeDee]

Yes I can relate, I hate getting sir'ed on the phone no matter how best I try with my voice.

[Jeatyn]

I've allowed this problem to hinder my work before but I refuse to let it happen now. Even when I worked reception in an office I managed to be conveniently busy whenever the phone rang - I'd let it go to voicemail and then email the person they were calling for to tell them to ring them back. Needless to say I didn't last too long at that job xD

Shortly after I made this post one of them rang, it actually wasn't too bad. It never is to be fair, the thought of it and the anticipation is always much worse than the actual thing. We've arranged to meet up in person tomorrow to discuss, my second most dreaded thing...meeting new people I still much much much prefer a face to face conversation than the phone though.

[Joe.]

I have this problem too. The only people I feel comfortable talking on the phone to are my best friend, mum and dad. I even hate talking to my brother or grandparents on the phone. I just find it really nerve racking  and it panics me as I feel I'm going to sound stupid. What I'm trying to say is you're definitely not alone.

The only advice I can offer is to try and stay calm. It sounds simple but it can be extremely hard. Before you speak, take a moment to think about what they have said and think about what you want to say back, then say it. Even though that time may seem like a lifetime to you, to them it would have only been a split second. Take the conversation as it comes and if you need to pull stupid faces or walk around like I do to get over the nervousness, then do it, they can't see you!

Joey

[Mysteryman]

At the office I just get it over with, I don't mind making calls... But when it comes to personal use (cell phone) I would rather send a message than talk on the phone. OR else meet my friend in person. I don't see the enjoyment of talking to someone you aren't next to/ cant see, for hours on end... It just hinders me from doing far more interesting things!

[Jeatyn]

At the office I just get it over with, I don't mind making calls... But when it comes to personal use (cell phone) I would rather send a message than talk on the phone. OR else meet my friend in person. I don't see the enjoyment of talking to someone you aren't next to/ cant see, for hours on end... It just hinders me from doing far more interesting things!

I hate this too, when my sister has a few glasses of wine she often calls me and keeps me on the phone for 2-3-4 hours and it's such a pain...I'm like...can't we do this on facebook chat or something so I can multitask? xD

[Ponyboy]

Ugh.  I HATE talking on the phone.  I pretty much only talk with a pre-approved, very short list of people, which is pretty much my mom and two of my friends.  Everyone else must use text.  I can't deal otherwise.

[JenSquid]

While I can talk with some of my friends on the phone for hours, I HATE having to call strangers. It makes me so anxious. Even ordering a pizza makes me nervous. I wish I knew why, but I guess the lack of non-verbal cues may have something to do with it.

[cream]

i hate phones as well, i dont get nervious but i get annoyed,

i cant stand this new generation and how they use phones, people will literally txt someone or pick up there phone every second it beeps right in the middle of a person to person face to face conversation and go yea yea yea, when what your saying is going in 1 ear and out the other,

its so bad more people die when txting and driving then drinking and driving now..

god forbid if you answered someone back 5 minutes after they sent a txt, people act like its the end of the world..

then theres the people that have to have the best phone on the market, dont even get me started..

[Blaine]

My main issue with phones is that I end up interrupting the other person the entire time. I'm bad enough with talking to strangers when I can read their body language and try to predict when it's my turn, and phones just make it so much worse. I sound like an idiot when I have to apologize seven times in a row before I hang up.

[Jayr]

Used to have the same problem, I'd panic just thinking about using the phone and pace around before making any phone call.
One day though, I decided to face my fears and get over it. It took a while but before I knew it I wasn't stressed about it anymore.
The more phone calls you make, the less stressed you get (:

Got to face your fears!!