[xxAmyxx]

Does anyone else have this problem with their anxiety.

I have always had severe issues with talking on the phone even when I was little. If someone tries to force me to talk on the phone I will go into a panic attack. It terrifies me. I can't really give any reason for the fear it has just always been there.

Most of the time I won't talk on any instant messengers to people either. The fear of typing something stupid/ and or saying something wrong terrifies me.

I will avoid talking on the phone or any instant messangers even to my closest friends. Most understand. I did have one girl who couldn't understand this (even though she claimed to have anxiety problems as well) and would always complain about me avoiding her to the point of giving me panic attack. She told me to stop making excuses and fix the problem I was having :C. I am now no longer this persons friend but it doesn't make me feel much better.

So I pretty much wanted to know if anyone else with anxiety had problems with doing these tasks?

[Perna]

I had extreme problems with the phone too; it took me like 25-30 years to change that. We didn't have instant messaging back then but I don't see that one "needs" messaging, even now.

You have to work with/learn to do those things, or your fear of fear/panic attacks will just make them worse and collect other odd fears. If you want them to change, you can decide to work on them and change them. Do you go to any therapy at all? I know working on other self esteem problems can help with how we feel about our fears and maybe make it easier to work on the really tough ones.

Mostly you are afraid of being afraid. That has to be faced head on if you want it to change. You have to be afraid/accept the panic and all that discomfort. Being afraid won't kill you but not being able to dial 911 might?

[wing]

I suffer from this too, and even go over my posts here several times for fear of saying something wrong. I'm learning to accept mistakes and discomfort as signals to kick my CBT skills in to help cope.

[racee]

my whole family has issues with leaving messages...and every one knows that so they know to call us back...just can't leave a message into the abyss it's just...i dunno.your voice is recorded and there foreveryone to hear and just can't do it. as well as talking on phone..i would just rather do it face to face cause there is always those awkward silences...so no one calls me they just text and i either text back or don't...
all this is pretty normal i have gathered data from people over the years there are more people with this type of anxiety than you realize..and than there are people this way but you wouldn't know it becasue they do talk on the phone and such but they push themselves cause they have to.

[CliveWild]

I always struggled with making phone calls, whether anxious or not. I never had problems with computer communication whatever my mood or anxiety.

I don't don't where the phone thing came from. It even affected me when I had quite a responsible IT job.

Clive

[CedarS]

I don't usually enjoy talking on the phone but I taught myself to be able to do so calmly. I don't let myself get triggered by the sound of the phone ringing. I also just have my phone turned off and let messages go to voice mail often.

I determined for myself that it was important that even in the face of anxiety that I be able to use the phone.

Instant message programs became too exhausting for me to use. The multi tasking interruption aspect of im is what gets to me. Some of this has to do with the fact that I have fibromyalgia also, which can make my attention and focus skills fuzzy.

[sundog]

Hi Amy. I can relate to this too. I don't have panic attacks on the phone, but I don't much like using it at all. And I don't like instant messaging or chat rooms either. But I'm not sure that it's entirely to do with anxiety. It could also be personal preference. Not everyone is a "phone person" or a "chat room" person.

I agree with CedarS that instant messaging is exhausting (for me). And I find chat rooms exhausting too. I really think that's just about preferred communication style though. Personally I prefer emailing - or even texting - as a way of communicating with people who are not in the same room as me. I like to be able to communicate when it suits me best without feeling pressured to respond "immediately".

One thing that helped me with my dislike of the telephone was getting a a Smart Phone. I love it!!!!!!!!

If these things are really holding you back, then I definitely think it could help a lot to work with a therapist on these issues. Good luck to you! ((((((Amy)))))