Does anyone else hate answering the telephone?

You are TOTALLY singing my song!! I call my version of it "telephonophobia". I'd rather talk to someone in person, text, or E-mail than talk on the phone any day of the year. For eons I've thought that I was weird, and now I hear it's common in bipolar individuals. What a relief it was to know I wasn't the only one with a fear of the telephone.

I hate the ring it sends me running hard to answer and not freak out and get all scared morebad news

I hate the phone too unless its someone i know.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I also have a phobia of answering the phone. I never answer the phone if it isn't someone I know. And I rarely answer the phone if it isn't someone who is in my immediate family. My friends know they are better off texting me rather than actually calling.

It gives me severe anxiety and panic attacks... I usually put off phone calls until I have no other choice- like when I get locked out of my bank account online and am forced to call to reset it. I hate that so much!

For a long time, I thought everyone let their phones go to voice-mail. I didn't realize that it was something odd until a friend confronted me about never answering her calls. I think after realizing it WAS a problem it got worse. Now that I know that I *should* be answering, I feel more pressured. Ugh.

I dislike answering the telephone due to my autism. I don't understand social ques as well as the average person so talking on the phone is especially hard for me. I often interrupt people while they are talking or make awkward long pauses. I also misinterpret conversations which often have bad consequences. I prefer texting better since it gives me time to evaluate what the person most likely means and gives me time to think of a appropriate response.

Lololol!!!!

We may have to add "TELEPHONOBIA" to the Urban Dictionary! Welcome to the club.

I have trouble with makin calls too... Even ordering pizza makes me anxious lol... Silly I know and I feel silly about it

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I hate making phone calls especially to people I don't know. I could never be a telemarketer! I am thrilled when I get an answering machine because I can make them call me.

I hate phones period. Talking on the phone drives me crazy. I already struggle socially face to face. Not getting cues and all that. Over the phone, it's especially hard. I never know when to talk or when to shut up and I just feel awkward.

I don't even have a phone. Not even a cell phone. I like it that way.

I was wondering if this spills over to checking voicemail, email or opening mail for anyone else? I always feel like it is going to be some BS I do not want to deal with or something else annoying.....

I hear you! I feel socially awkward too! I have a terrible aversion to MAKING phone calls. I don't mind answering the phone, if someone calls me. But I procrastinate and sometimes make excuses to myself for never getting around to calling people, even loved ones, because I am so afraid that I am intruding in their life by calling them. Every once in a while I get the nerve to call my grown daughter or son if I have a specific reason to call them (birthday, holiday), but not hardly ever "just to chat". My phone rarely ever rings, because I don't call anyone. I get lots of annoying calls from telemarketers which I disconnect as soon as I see they are not from someone I know, but otherwise I only get a call or two a month. I DO love to write though so I keep up communications that way.

I have felt this way, too, now that I have read this post.

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I don't struggle with answering...but I sometimes don't check my voicemails for a month at a time. I also hate opening mail.

Lol! It's only funny because I answer the phone the exact same way fairly often these days! Your comment gave me the FIRST GENUINE LAUGH I've had in about a week! Thank you for that!

I hate my phone ringing TODAY because it kept interrupting me on this forum &I would lose what I was reading or replying to! I LITERALLY answerd the phone a few times yelling "OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT NOW?! I WAS IN A CHAT ROOM & YOU JUST MESSED ME UP! It almost threw me into another manic episode! My Android, (which I named Andy because it seems to have a mind of its own) was already giving me enough problems. Not to mention I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING! I've never been involved in anything like this. Texting & Google is about the only thing I know how to do on this phone!

And on the subject of phones......DOES ANYONE HATE FACEBOOK? I think Facebook ought to set daily limits as to how long you can stay on! My kids all have accounts & at EVERY FAMILY GATHERING NOT ONE OF THEM WILL TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THERE PHONE & BE SOCIABLE! I don't think I should have to get a Facebook account JUST TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH ME!

I am the exact same way!!!
I avoid answering the phone... even when its family or friends. I dont like unexpected calls the most. If I know ahead of time it's easier for me to deal with. If I have to make a call I have to write out my questions ahead of time or else I get all flustered and the second I get off the phone I think of all the things I forgot to say.
I had a boyfriend get really mad about it too. He could not understand my phobia and was upset that I wouldnt answer his home phone and talk to his family and got mad when I wouldnt answer my phone when it was an unknown number or my folks.
I try to text when ever I can.
I also have a phobia of skype calls on cam... not sure if its related or anyone else has the same fear.
I have gotten better over the years but I still avoid it whenever I can.

YES!!!

That is exactly the way it is. You worded it perfectly.

I abhor answering the phone! I was just diagnosed BPII two days ago and finding even just this thread is such a relief, so thanks! I find that with CBT (for anxiety) I can gain ground on all anxious behaviours except this one.

I can comfortably communicate either in person, or occasionally via texts or facebook messaging and that's it (and hopefully here now too).

I can make calls to strangers to organise appointments etc as they have no expectations of me and are just as happy to get off the phone at the end of the call. I don't call or answer people I know. I just feel pressured and anxiety ridden. I've tried to explain and asked for text/FB messages but nobody gets it and they still call and call which just makes my aversion worse.

It's so good to know it's not uncommon to feel this way

I hate answering the phone as well. My ringer is off 99% of the time When I look at my phone and see that no one called I think that is great. I feel relieved when I don't have messages. It's like I'd have a responsibility to call someone back and generally I don't want to do it. I usually call folks back when I know I have to go in a few minutes, like pick someone up or get to an appointment. I do that so I don't have to talk long, yet I called them back.

Literally the only time I answer my phone is when I call a nurse/doctor and they say they will call back in 5 minutes or so.

My thoughts (even though they are selfish) are "who in the heck has the right to interrupt me"? and leave me alone. I'm not on call and no folks do not have a right to call me all the time and expect me to answer. No I don't want to know that you are at the store and found a new dress, or that you are about to take your kid to xyz. It use to be that only doctors where on call like that. Answering my phone feels like I am on call. No I am not available when folks call and I call them at my leisure hoping they won't answer.

I don't like answering the phone. I hardly talk on it. I been like that for about 10 or so years. Someone told me that I need to erase my messages that my inbox is full and they couldn't leave a message...I think it was a doctor or something, or maybe a few professionals. I said...I don't even know the password and it has been full for years. I never checked them. LOL

I hate talking on the cell phone though because I think I am going to get brain cancer and its going to eat my brain. I actually get really nervous about it. I hardly use it, but my spouse keeps the service on...in case I need to call for a ride or something or need to be picked up from somewhere.

I don't feel socially awkward on the phone really. ..but I do remember when I was much younger I did, when I did not have that much experience and I didn't know who I was talking to.