Is anyone else afraid to use the telephone? I've been trying to phone someone for a few days now and I keep hanging up before I'm finished dialing or after one ring. At first I thought it was just related to this particular person, but then this morning I realized I haven't dialed anyone for months. I used to make calls that were absolutely necessary, like to the doctor's office for example, but now that my family is here, I get them to do it for me. I say I'm too sick or tired, could you please call for me? Erm. But actually they're enabling me. I could make the calls myself if I really tried.

I also have trouble with answering the phone, and even listening to messages. I can't stand the ring of the phone, so I unplug it, which annoys everyone. The ring really startles me. If I leave the ringer on, I worry all day that it's going to ring. Anything to do with the phone, ringing someone or answering it, brings on a panic attack.

I have a pretty good idea of what I need to do to get over this phobia... I'm just wondering if anyone else has the same problem. Thanks.

not any more but i can relate. when i was being threatened all the time i was like that. i got to where i was feeling like the gov. was watching me listning to everything i say on the phone even just talking in my house. i finaly got to the point that i realized it was just me. and it didnt matter if they listened to me or not. and if they did threaten me i was taping them. i still dont call very many people and i keep my tape recorder with me everywhere i go and a camara too.

The only time the phone scares me is if I get a call that is at a wierd time. I always think it is bad news.

I absolutely do have a fear of using the phone! I will only make calls that have to be made, or I can call people that I know, but there is positively NO cold-calling for me! I can't even answer the phone at home unless I know who it is...I let the others get it. I thought I was just being a wuss.

Well. That's interesting to know. Guess we won't be enabling you any longer my dear!

Uncle Jim.

I get like that sometimes.. I find it's more just exhaustion and a lack of patience with people. I will just dread the phone or the door when I'm like that. When I lock myself in my house.. I tend not to answer the phone. I will unhook all my phones, turn down the sound on the machine.. and ignore the world.. Somedays I just can't handle the outside world. I dont' think that's really phobia.. more like "extreme" self care!!


HAHAHA.. hows that for rationalization!


bec

Just call me Evie... don't think about it, just do it.

I simply do not like phones, unless this is a call from/to someone I know well. Sometimes to prefer to go to the place, such as my cell phone company office, instead of calling there. I do not know what is so tricky about it! And I don't like to answer phones and listen to messages, too. And dislike the ring.
Since I can not avoid using my cell phone, I put some nice ringtones there: cat meow, cow moo, and other animal sounds.

For about a week I was afraid to check my email or log on to certain websites. I'm still afraid to log on to one website in particular. During the same time I was afraid to answer unknown telephone numbers or check my messages.

It reminds me of the days when I wasn't able to put tear drops in my eye, or my finger for my first contacts. It's as if there's some sort of repelling force, some innate part of me bent on protecting the rest of me.

Errmm... yeah I know... I have been trying. I've called you about 5 times now, but I always hang up after one ring. Sigh.

I'm glad though that some other people have this problem and I'm not a total weirdo in that regard. I googled phone phobia to see if there were any write ups about it, and there was this advert site that said, I shit you not, "Call us at 1-900 to start dealing with your phone phobia now!" LMAOOOO!! Like obviously if you are able to call them you don't have the phobia lol.

Linda I like the cat meow and cow moo ideas for ringtones! Maybe I should do that with my mobile. Right now it's just turned off all the time, same as the home phone.

Upstream, I have the problem with certain websites too. Once in a while I feel phobic about signing in here even, but not usually.
Haha yeah maybe you are rationalizing. I think I've had that sometimes though too, where I'm just super tired and want to be left alone. This is different though. I'm shit scared to pick up the phone. I feel like I'm having a heart attack.

Anyways thanks everyone.