Fear of talking on the phone

I'm afraid of talking on the phone. Won't answer calls. Won't return them. It's not that I don't want to do any of this it's that I have panic attacks and emotional breakdowns whenever I try. Have actually gotten fired by doctor's offices for getting "over emotional" on the phone with receptionists, even while trying to make appointments about this problem! lol. So I just avoid phone calls at all cost. Last night I had a zoom appointment and I got so sleepy before it to subconsciously avoid it that I slept through the appointment. So I avoid Zoom, too.

Just wondered if anyone else has this. It might just be an offshoot of social anxiety, I guess.

[Starrlight]

I used to have that. I would have such panic attacks any time I had to talk on the phone. I think it’s social anxiety for me. When I got on Paxil it helped me so much.

[Bhavik16 in reply to Starrlight]

Ok paxil. But do you had any side effects ?

[Starrlight in reply to Bhavik16]

Yup and not every med works the same for everyone as I’m sure you know.

[Bhavik16]

Its not right thing to take so much pain and guilt. Be happy, do meditation ,yoga, prayer, exercise and if your dont get proper treatment , change the doctor.

[Opportunity]

I had this too. Crazy story. Have you ever heard of Pavlov’s dogs? Well, every time Pavlov would feed his dogs, he would ring a bell. It got so that they’d salivate and get all excited for food if he rang the bell. Even if he brought no food. Bell meant food. Well, turns out, my phone anxiety was like that. Every time I had to talk on the phone, I was getting off the phone afterward and talking to a frenemy who was very condescending. At the time, I thought she was comforting me but she really wasn’t . One day, I put two and two together and thought, “Could my phone call anxiety be linked to my frenemy the way the bell and the food are linked together for Pavlov’s dogs?” I literally stopped in my tracks and sat there thinking about this. I decided to experiment by not talking to her after talking on the phone. Within two weeks, I had no more phone anxiety. My suggestion, based on my own experiment, is to look around your phone anxiety for anything bad that is linked to talking on the phone. Then de-link those things. By contrast, you can also experiment in the other direction and give yourself a treat after every phone call. Then phone call = treat. I know this sounds so... like, I dunno, but honestly, I would have done anything to get over my phone anxiety and if a bowl of ice cream after every phone call did it, so be it.

Best wishes to you!!

[Lucy54Abby04]

Yes I have been experiencing this too for awhile now. I attribute it to anxiety and depression and panic attacks. My husband is the only person I readily answer the phone for or call. Anyone else I have to really push myself. Sometimes I write down ahead of time what I want to say.