Phone anxiety :-(

[PGT]

I get very nervous when I have to make a phone call. I always put it off until I have no choice and I just look at the phone for ages before picking it up. I have to make a call while standing so I can pace around, I can't sit down while on the phone.

 

[mikebird]

:sad: Is it bad to say 'Hi!" when picking up the phone?

It's a general approach. I'm getting a response of silence, or worse.

The vocabulary of phone people seems to consist of strictly only 'hello'. By going a real extra mile, most people repeat my name, repeating that and 'hello' ongoing, and I copy.

When I begin with 'good morning / afternoon / evening' as applicable, this appears to shock anyone on the phone and be far beyond their understanding, and vocabulary. The next frontier: 'what's the reason for your call?'
'what is your name?' or 'what's the name of your company?' became nonetheless futile mare than a decade ago

 

[montejocarlo]

it also happens to me, especially when another person is close by and can potentially hear me talking on the phone. these past few weeks though, it's been a little less intense. i think it's a matter of getting used to.

 

[Barrier]

I've had it, but at a job where I had to answer calls I learned it wasn't as scary as I made it out to be. I have to say when I feel bad, the anxious feeling tends to creep up a little. I do have to find the courage to make a phonecall.

 

[jaim38]

I feel anxious speaking on the phone too, but it depends on the person I'm speaking to and the context. I feel more comfortable conversing with ESL speakers (people who don't speak English as their first language) because I can mess up and not feel bad about it.

However, when I'm speaking to native English speakers, I get very nervous and sometimes scared. I feel pressure to sound perfect and be engaging. And sometimes people speak so fast that I don't have time to think through my responses. I have to play catchup.

And context matters too. Having small talk with strangers is not the same as selling yourself in job interviews. Obviously, the latter makes me feel extremely nervous. The more serious and formal the situation, the more anxious I get.

 

[Bo592]

I too suffer from this problem. While I have no problem doing voice chats over the computer, I have issues with answering or making calls on my phone unless it is my mum or my boyfriend (caller ID is so very useful to me). I too usually let the call go to voice mail if the caller is someone that is not recognized.

I'll never forget the day it took me almost three hours to convince myself to finally call for a pizza delivery, even with my boyfriend's help. 8O

Making notes before you make the call is a great start. Having someone there to be with you while you make the call (if possible) can also be helpful. At the very least, it's nice to know that other people are finding talking on the phone is as scary for them as it is for me. Makes you not feel so alone, hm?

Abra I went thought that problem of not being able to order a pizza too. Mine was because when I am nervous I don`t hear people that well or speak that well and I could not get my phone number out witch is something the pizza people need for ordering a pizza. What help me for talking on the phone is to write down notes first and find a area in your home that make you feel comfortable and safe.