Guest Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I have a huge problem with using the phone. I like to get calls but I freeze at the thought of making one to anything but the closest family. I avoid calling freinds and now I'm working in a school where the head of year and head of upper school think that every problem can be solved if you "phone the parents". Its kinda hard to explain why I won't. When I worked in an office I would always email people or call them lunchtime or late in the evening and leave messages on their machines so they would call me back. Am I odd? I pose this quesiton now because I'm sick and in this stoopid new school I don't call an answerphone (like my old school) I have to call someone AT HOME! Oh and that someone is a miserable non smiler, I tried smiling at her again today with no response. I'm going to do it, Im going to do it, I'm going to do it....right...now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 or maybe I'm going to do it in the morning handbook says call at any reasonable time or between 7 and 7.30am on school mornings. Seems better than disturbing someones evening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 You are not the only one who is Telephobic I am just the same, I get myself all worked up about it and usually get the OH to phone people I don't know very well. The thing is once you actually speak to the person it is never as bad as you thought it would be...............Don't put it off just do it and then you can relax............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 i used to have this problem. But now i love it.... Turn your worry into Postitive energy. Your phoning them to Help them. Youll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Oh, you're definitely not alone Pengy, I'm a bt the same. Don't mind ringing complete strangers, positively love ringing people whom I know very well, it's those casual acquaintances or the ones that I want to impress that I try to avoid. I worry that I'll speak too fast or too loud or stumble over my words, and then if I think I will, I invariably do . It's ridiculous though, even though I'm another who persuades hubby to make phone calls on my behalf................. and then tell him off if he doesn't say exactly what I intended . Oh, and don't get me started on answerphones, I hardly ever leave messages, I'd rather just try again later. I hate hearing myself on an answerphone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I think it's quite a common phobia, and (in my view) it's to do with the fact that you can't see the other person - if you don't know them well, we tend to assume that they are annoyed/displeased to hear from us. I cringe about making calls - as Afamily said, it's the casual acquaintances, not the complete strangers or the people we know well. I do, and have done for years, work in a professional job, I do public speaking, I often have to ring people up ... and I STILL hate it! Try and imagine them smiling at the other end of the phone, it helps (specially with your non-smiley person) Hope you feel better soon, if you are ill that makes it even harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Now if you asked me to stand up and speak in assembly tomorrow, or to a hall full of parents it would be no problem (other than the fact I feel ill and want to spend tomorrow in bed!). Or to stand onstage and sing to a huge audience. - I love it Play saxophone at the Royal Albert Hall (yep been there, done that, got the T shirt - well as part of a band) The text message was invented for me. Its a perfect get out for calling someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I hate using the phone! I prefer email . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Gosh! It's such a relief to find there are others like me. What you describe is so familiar Penguinmad. I really don't like phoning people and put it off for literally weeks. In fact, none of us went for our usual dental check-up over the summer because I couldn't quite make myself ring up for an appointment. Now I'm telling myself I really must do it NOW in the hope we can get something in half-term. I got my DD1 to ring and make an eye appointment for the younger children and I get DH to do all the phone calls if I possibly can. I could get him to ring the dentist but then I feel silly when he asks them to hold on while he checks with me if the time is OK. I know I am really bad about it and I could never do a job which involved ringing people up. People complain about the menu things on phones - if you want this press 1 now - etc but I love them. I'm quite happy making phone calls if I don't have to speak to anyone. And I don't mind answering the phone. I just can't make phone calls. I LOVE email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkButton Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I used to be really nervous about phoning people i'd try and organise what I was going to say then get it all wrong during the call. The answer... Heavey drinking! you still mix your words up but your normally too drunk to care and you then have a very good excuse. Not much help I know but its actually not far from the truth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Whew, there's a whole bunch of us then! I hate it too! As part of my work I see people all day, every day, different one every half an hour. Some bright spark has decided that we don't really need to drag people into a clinic if they don't want to come as some assessments can be done over the phone! I hate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I finally phoned the woman this morning. She is as unfriendly on the phone as she is in person, very short and to the point. I'm sure it's just her but still doesn't help. I always feel like a skiver when I'm sick anyway as often I can do other stuff but just don't feel up to teaching, this morning my throat is tickly and I'm coughing a lot which is no way to be when you are facing some hideous year 11 boys for half the day. Oh and my nose is running and my head feels wooly. If I was skiving It would't be today, I have 2 frees today. Now tomorrrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Hope you feel better soon Pengi............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Feel better soon Pengy I don't mind the phone, but The Hubby is textphobic, if there is such thing He hates,loaths & detests texts, & just delets any that he gets without reading them. Which is fine until I need him & he is out of phone range so I send an emergency text so when he is back in range he gets it right away Men,eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Hope you feel better soon Pengy If I text my OH he waits till he gets home then says 'I've got a message, what does it say.' Blind as a bat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I hate texting, so when my friends text me, I call them back - much to their amusement. It's just so much easier and quicker to call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Now you see that would please me, I don't text because I don't want to talk but because I don't want to call. I love to get the call back. My german friend totally gets me and is always calling me after I text her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 It's just because I'm pants at texting and find it such a waste of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Now you see that would please me, I don't text because I don't want to talk but because I don't want to call. I love to get the call back. My german friend totally gets me and is always calling me after I text her! It's very strange isn't it? I never mind receiving calls either, but I find it very difficult to make them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I find when I'm at work I have no problem making or receiving business calls -at home though I hate the phone ringing and always try and get someone else to answer it (usually saying "I'm in the shower" etc ). I also run out of things to say after a couple of minutes, even to friends and family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I hate making phone calls, I always feel that I will be disturbing someone. If I have a day with lots of calls to make I put it off and it hangs over me like a cloud. I hate car insurance time, and ringing people like plumbers etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I am totally phobic about both making and receiving calls... my answer machine is a blessing to me. I am perfectly happy with texting, but talking on the phone is agony... If hubby is home he will make the phone call we have to make, or if I really have to talk to anyone on the phone I will go in a different room... It was a happy day for me when domino's pizza started taking online orders... Problem is, my closest friends all live abroad... we talk by email and instant messenger and text, but calling is still an issue... one friend solved this by bullying me into talking ('I will call and won't stop calling until you answer!!!'.... bit rough, but we now do call each other regularly, though I still get very, very nervous about calling, and averagely (is that a word?) nervous about him calling me...)... my other friend then found out I was taking calls from this first friend and got angry cause I don't answer his calls!!! It keeps getting me into trouble, yet I can't help it, the thought of phones fills me with dread, and the calls are always the last things still left on my to-do list when all else is done... Weirdest thing is, I used to work in a call centre... I hated phone before then, and still do now... how did I survive for two years there? No idea... I guess when money is needed, the job has to be done... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I have to admit that I love texts and email I'm dead slow at both, (and persist in using correct spelling & grammar in texts, much to the children's amusement ) but I think that they joy is that I can send them whenever I like and I'm not expecting someone who may be busy or have other things on their minds to answer a phone call, rather they can pick up a text or email whenever suits them Whew, there's a whole bunch of us then! I hate it too! As part of my work I see people all day, every day, different one every half an hour. Some bright spark has decided that we don't really need to drag people into a clinic if they don't want to come as some assessments can be done over the phone! I hate it! Snowy, I'm in that situation too, and I'm hating it As part of every chronic disease consultation (esp heart disease and diabetes) we are expected to ask clients if they are depressed, there is good evidence to suggest that these groups are at greater risk of depression than the general population and that we can greatly improve their quality of life by detecting and treating it. So far so good, and I'm very happy including the questions as part of an in surgery consultation and it is effective at identifying individuals who might need help. Except that we have a smallish cohort who don't attend for reviews for one reason or another . I have a list of names on my desk, given to me by my manager who has asked me to ring and ask them about whether or not they feel depressed (there are 2 standard questions I'm supposed to ask). I can't face doing it, it feels such an intrusive question to ask right out of the blue, so the list keeps disappearing further and further down my pile of jobs to do. With any luck I'll lose it all together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I must get OH to read this thread, he thinks i'm daft but i hate using the phone, whether making or receiving calls. I always get him to do it, which can be awkward as he doesn't always have the time at work whereas i'm at home all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Aren't we a funny lot? OH loves the phone - he'd be on it all day if he could. I never ring him, but he's rung me from work every day since we first met - over 17 years ago!!!! Kate - glad I'm not the only one then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
