Phone Phobia

Hello. My name is Leslie and I have phone phobia. I looked online and found out that I am not the only person with this phobia and there are others who are much worse off than I am. That makes me feel better. Doesn't help me make a phone call, but it does help me realize that I am not alone. This phobia falls under the list of social anxiety disorders. I don't mind answering the phone, but I hate to have to make a phone call.

Today I am suppose to make two phone calls. I should have made them long before today, but my anxiety gets in the way with that. We want to visit a few people and so I need to set up a time to see them. It is already 11:00am and I haven't done it yet. Well, actually, I just made one phone call and it went fine. But I am having trouble getting myself around to making the other one. I read a few websites on phone phobia and they had some suggestions on what to do to help yourself make a phone call. None of it helped. I just finally did it.

I have had this phobia for as long as I can remember. I fear disturbing people. I think that I will be calling at a bad time. So I NEVER call before or after 9 o'clock. I don't call during dinner time if I can help it. And then there is nap time too.

There are a few people that I can call without much difficulty. My parents and my sister.

I love leaving messages on answering machines of people I know well. I would so much more prefer to leave a message than to get a person on the phone. I love to leave long messages that I think are funny. I hate getting cut off by machines that only give you 10 seconds to leave a message. I usually call back and continue my message.

So there you go. One more interesting fact to know about me. And that is also why you will never get a call from me. It's not that I'm not wanting to talk to you, it is just an anxiety trip for me. So call me.

Comments

Kim said…
I must say, I do love funny messages on my answering machine. How about if my caller ID says it's you, so I don't answer the phone and we get a win-win of a funny message while saving you the anxiety - then I can call you right back. Deal?
July 11, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Liz said…
I used to hate calling people soooo much; I'd always write out what I was going to say. Not with close friends but especially calling businesses and stuff. It's fine now though.
August 7, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hot town!

Of course you have heard me complain about the heat lately. This will be a regular thing for the next couple of months. I looked on CNN weather page to see just how hot it was and it said at midnight that it was "99 and dreary". So true. We are thankful for electricity and air conditioners. When I do aerobics I turn the a/c on and it makes it bearable. You would think that the fat would just melt off. The problem is that ice cream is so cold and refreshing. Then there are mango shakes. yum.
Read more

Redeemed

Psalm 49:7-8 “No man can by any means redeem his brother.  Or give to God a ransom for him.  For the redemption of his soul is costly.” It is an amazing thing when someone comes to faith in God.  Last night I got to witness my brother in-law give his life to Jesus.  His life was redeemed.  The ransom for his soul was paid by Jesus long ago, but yesterday he was set free. My brother in-law was in darkness.  He knows his life was full of darkness and demonic presence.  He has been hearing about Jesus for years and knew that if he ever decided to become a follower that he would do it completely, not half heartedly.  He finally saw that he needed Jesus.  So yesterday he prayed a beautiful prayer acknowledging his need to get rid of the darkness in his life and knowing he can’t do it on his own.  Jesus filled his life.  My brother in-law said he felt something leave.  It was the darkness.  Jesus has filled his life...
Read more

The Party

Last night I went to Allison's (sis in-law) batchlorette party. It was at a mexican restaurant/bar. It was a very crowded place so we weren't able to get a big table all together. Allison and her girl friends were at one table and the old folks (me and others) were at our own table (feeling awkward). Allison showed up at the place drunk already, from a bit too many drinks in the limo. I thought it would be embarrassing to be around your mother in-law to-be and your grandmother in-law to-be, but she didn't seem too worried about it. Allison wasn't a bad drunk really. She was a little loud, but not obnoxious. I felt old. I had a new dress on, but I ended up looking like an old lady instead of a young thing. I had some nice shoes on too. But my purse, which looked fine at home, turned into an old lady purse. It was also cold out, so I had a shawl. I'm glad I had it but it just added to the old lady look. I don't drink for two reasons. First, I am che...
Read more