Hi, I'm new to this forum but I'm glad I found it because I'm in a depressing spot so any advice would be wonderful.

I suffer from depression, OCD, anxiety and possibly PTSD. A lot has happened in my family and to me that had an effect, to say the least. Anyway, I say all of this because I have a recurring problem with any type of social relationship--whether friendly or romantic.

Right now I've been talking to this guy that I really like and who really likes me. But, I feel so nervous and terrified about talking to him on the phone so I always prefer we text. Well, I told him he could actually call me but I still have this habit of falling into a dead, empty anxiousness whenever I think of him ringing or when I see the phone ringing. I think I have a phobia of talking on the phone in general because I can hear the voice and inflection but I can't see the facial and body expressions. I have a hard time verbally communicating with anybody over the phone, but relationships are a thousand times worse. I have this block inside of me that I can't get out of. I've literally watched the phone ring, seeing it was him or, in other cases, a friend. I don't know how to get over this and I don't know what's causing this phobia of talking on the phone when I do alright talking face-to-face. No matter what, I always have problems opening up to people and recognizing my own emotions.

I'm really scared that I'm never going to get over this or that I'm going to lose him--and he's a really great guy. But, besides him, I'm afraid of how this will affect my future and how it's affecting me now.

Does anyone have advice/has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice, no matter how honest and straightforward, is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
RileyRonan