Comments on: Social Anxiety | Do You Have Telephonophobia?

By: Mental Health, Intimacy, and the 4-Stage Hug « WunderNutbar's Blog by Richard-Yves Sitoski

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:32:58 +0000

[...] even the thought of human interaction. I jealously guard my personal time and space, neurotically avoiding the telephone unless very specific arrangements have been made in advance, etc. By this token, I could never [...]

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:07:35 +0000

Hi…
My problem is having to explain myself or convey information about myself… Telephones are a real nightmare for me but this also extends to writing down personal information on a form…
I cannot find the right words to use to make myself understood and then feel my embarresment & anger rising to a very quick crescendo at which point I become completely inchorrent and out of control…
No one understands…
Its just a telephone…
I try to use email and text all the time but these don’t appear to be legitimate forms of communication to others… Every situation ends in me needing to make a phone call which ultimately means it will never get done…
It has even taken me over two hours to write this post…
=(

By: Shanna

Shanna — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:17:07 +0000

I a have a terrible fear of telephones. I think my phobia stems from childhood when I answered the phone and there was some nasty pervert on the other end, this traumatised me.

I have tried exposing myself to making phone calls as my mother seems to think that the more I do it the easier it will become. This has not been the case. The anxiety is still there the next time I have to make a call.

I have had many jobs that have required me to use the telephone and strangely in this situation I can cope with it but when it is a personal issue I just go into panic mode.

When I am really bad I rely on email and even then I worry about the reply that I will recieve. I have an fear that I will be told off, reprimanded, shouted at or made to feel stupid and humiliated.

In social situations I am confident and relaxed, its just the phone!!!

I have had a letter recently that requires me to make a call, it concerns some money that I am owed but I am already assuming that I am going to be told that I will not get the money and the person on the other end will be aggressive or snooty and I will not be able to fight my corner but will be reduced to a quivering wreck!

I fully understand what everyone who has posted is going through, its a nightmare. Good luck to everyone out there with telephonophobia.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 26 May 2011 08:11:17 +0000

i know how everyone feels. I can make calls to a business but to people I know I cant and I email them instead. if I do t know their email address and I have to call it akesme agesto work myself up to it. I often would call them if I k ow they are at an appointment and wont answer and then I can leave a message.

For some reason I dont mind receiving callseven then though there are quie a few times I dont answer the phone. Do t even call my husband. i email him instead as his phone notifies him of any emails that come through.

I am in the process right now of trying to call someone I know and I am putting it off.

By: G

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:33:52 +0000

I just got a new job and I was asked to make some calls about estimates and prices. My stomach is turning and I’m freaking out. I keep putting off and it’s feels really stupid. I mean it’s just a phone call right? it’s not the end of the world. My mom use to be this way and I guess I inherited it; most of my jobs I’ve been able to use email and such so calls never had to happen. This really sucks but I have to get past it, I got a wife and kids now it’s just a fear.