How do you cure a phone phobia?!


Question: I know it probably sounds stupid, but I have a phone phobia. I'm not afraid of phones physically, but I have a near panic attack if I have to call someone I don't personally know. I quit going to the beauty salon years ago when my gf couldn't call for me anymore, now I settle for walk in haircuts. When I had to move my mom & sis had to make all the calls otherwise I'd go to an open house. My kids or husband have to call for pizza, the dog groomer...A week b4 Christmas I had an exposed nerve in my tooth (worse pain in my life and I've had 5 kids!) I had to have my bro-inlaw pretend to be my hubby & call the dentist for me. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to go. I don't know when this started, but it's been going on for years. Logically I know nothing bad will happen, but I freak out if I have to make a 'stranger call'. I usually hang up if someone answers & I always pray I'll get voicemail or an answering machine. I can't call the kids in absent for school...anyone else have this?


Answers: I know it probably sounds stupid, but I have a phone phobia. I'm not afraid of phones physically, but I have a near panic attack if I have to call someone I don't personally know. I quit going to the beauty salon years ago when my gf couldn't call for me anymore, now I settle for walk in haircuts. When I had to move my mom & sis had to make all the calls otherwise I'd go to an open house. My kids or husband have to call for pizza, the dog groomer...A week b4 Christmas I had an exposed nerve in my tooth (worse pain in my life and I've had 5 kids!) I had to have my bro-inlaw pretend to be my hubby & call the dentist for me. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to go. I don't know when this started, but it's been going on for years. Logically I know nothing bad will happen, but I freak out if I have to make a 'stranger call'. I usually hang up if someone answers & I always pray I'll get voicemail or an answering machine. I can't call the kids in absent for school...anyone else have this?

I had a fear when I was younger. Not as bad as yours though. I got a job in purchasing and I had to make lots of calls. Everytime I called someone. . .my voice would get lower and lower. Luckily I was able to transfer to another department. I learned through the years, that the more I talked on the phone, the better I got with my phobia. So, try talking to as many people as you can over the phone to overcome your phobia. Start with family and friends first. Eventually, you'll have to overcome your fear because telecommunications is an important part of life. Good Luck!

This is something you probably can get over fairly easily with some cognitive behavior therapy. I would seek out a therapist in my area and talk to him/her.

wow this is new, never heard of it..try consulting a professional..

It has build up over the years..,,, first few times of negligance and teh fact that nobody ever made you to make a call yourself...

Well. i was in the same situation... but my girlfriend so fed up and she initially wanted me to answer her calls... this helped me a lot and later when i got a job i started to interact with people a lot io felt much better.... now i end up making all calls for her tooo... i guess she got my phobia now....


So here's the deal.. try and keep trying u will make it... its not a very big deal!!!! no need to freak out...every1 has it

I'm exactly the same, phoning people I know isn't a problem, but having to phone a stranger, no way will I do it.
I am petrified of answering the phone as well, incase it's a stranger. I hate it as phones seem to be something you need to have these days.

i kind of have it whenever someone asks for me i couldn't talk but i got over it although i hesitate to call someone. i got over it by picking it up and act like i was talking to someone then id call my parents talk to them hangup a couple hours later call them again i kept do it intil i could call friends and my cousin then my ant and so on intil i could call anyone then stopped and now i hesitate but i still call them.

I have the same problem. When I started my job they wanted me to answer the phones to get me used to being in an office environment. I did fine answering but as soon as the person on the other end started talking my mind went crazy and I couldn't pay attention. I get even worse when having to make a call. I have to write down what I am going to say to them and read it over and over until I feel comfortable. I don't want to loose my job so I force myself to do it. I sometimes hate leaving voice mail because I ending up trying to explain myself in a voice mail...then it gets awkward and I just hang up. I usually cringe after making any call.

The only thing I can suggest to you is take a deep breath and do it. The more you do it the easier it gets. Let go of your emotions. It's been almost a year for me at this job and I do see myself getting better.

Good luck to you. I feel your pain

idk i am confused





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