[WishfulThinker66]

Does anyone else suffer this? How does it impact your life? How do you manage?

I panic when the phone rings and assume it is the worst news waiting for me - even when the name or business shows on the screen. Likewise it is difficult for me to make a call.

when my phone rings, I always ignore the call.

I have a phobia of the FBI coming after me, and I suppose every time it rings, I'm thinking it's some investigators coming after me.

that, or prank calls like surveys

when it comes to calls, I am absolutely fine if the number I am calling is automated (press 1, press 2, etc)

speaking to real people on the phone bother me..

I usually have to plan those types of phone calls in advance, practice what I want to say, then call them- and even then I struggle.

one of the things that help me though is thinking that.. it's just that. it's a person on a phone line. at this moment I am safe, and they can't do anything to me. they can abuse me on the phone, but then I can hang up and ignore their call backs

[Mountaindewed]

I just text now. I can reply to texts in minutes but besides work I can put off calling people for anywhere from a few days to over a year.