Do You Have Phone Phobia?

In the age of the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android -- we're all preoccupied with instant communication 24/7.

If we're not talking on our phone, we're browsing the web on our phone, sending texts, or updating Tweets. Try to separate us from those little gadgets for longer than an hour and we'll lose our minds. That's why it's so hard to believe that even in the midst of our talking technology, some of us have what has been widely referred to as "phone phobia".

If you haven't experienced it yourself, you have most likely witnessed it in a friend or boyfriend. Severe anxiety over answering phones, calling people, talking on the phone in front of friends or strangers are just a few examples of some phone phobia symptoms. I remember dating a guy who became so anxious at the thought of being on the phone in front of me that whenever we ordered food in, I was promised that if I made the call he would pay for everything. Every time. For two years.

Great for me, but breaking the bank to accommodate his anxiety was probably not the best idea.

If you have a phobia of using the phone, here are some of the things you may experience...

- You are afraid that you will be ridiculed over the phone.

- You are afraid that the person on the other side may misunderstand you.

- You are afraid that you won't remember everything that you called to discuss.

- You are afraid that other people listening in the room will make fun of you.

- You soil yourself every time you hear the song "Telephone" by Lady Gaga.

You can only avoid the phone for so long. Sure, passing up a job as a telemarketer seems like the easiest way to bow out, but every now and then you are still going to find yourself in uncomfortable situations which involve calling people and speaking on the phone in public. They say confronting your fears is the best way to conquer them, so here are a few tips to help you with phone fright:

Start making frequent phone calls to someone you're close to - Familiarity will boost your confidence and make you feel a little more comfortable with the idea of talking on the phone. Get in a few lengthy conversations until you get to a point of feeling like your dialogue is fluid and natural.

Role play - No, not like that. Well, unless it helps. With a friend write a script of a conversation you may potentially have with clients, business colleagues, your salon, the pizza delivery guy, etc. Rehearse, rinse, repeat.

Make calls when you are in a good mood - You tend to present yourself well when you are at your best, so take advantage of a sunny disposition and let your shining personality do all the work!

Photo from re-ality on FlickR

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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