How can I get over my severe phone anxiety?

+1 vote
asked Jun 21, 2017 in Other- Health by gan (130 points)
How can I get over my severe anxiety? I have a fear of talking on the phone
and whenever I get a phone call or have to make a call my heart starts racing
and will not slow down until I hang up the phone.

Sometimes I can't even bring myself to make the phone call even though the phone
call is really important.

1 Answer

0 votes
answered Jul 17, 2017 by Amaranth (740 points)

You're not alone. I'm the same way. 

I hate making phone calls. 

It's called phone phobia and it's due to social anxiety. 

Set goals and take small steps to confront your fear. 

One of the best ways to overcome your phone fear is to face it. Start small, with types of calls that only make you a little nervous, and gradually work your way up to calls that seem scarier. (Note: what makes a call more or less intimidating will vary by person: spend some time reflecting on how variables like length, purpose, or the person you’re talking to affect how anxious you feel, and plan what calls to slowly confront based on this knowledge). 

For example, let’s say you know you feel more nervous talking to someone on the phone if you don’t know them well or at all. You might gradually work your way up to talking to strangers by first calling a close friend, then calling a friend you’re less close to, then an acquaintance, and finally a customer service line or other number where you don’t know the person answering. 

With each successive call, you’ll grow more comfortable and learn that the anticipation is often worse than the actual call. Make sure to set measurable goals to mark your progress: for example, your goal could be to call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while and learn three new things about them or to call a customer service line and ask one question.

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