[also_depr]

Whom would you call to reduce your telephone anxiety?

It's clear that sometimes we need to enter in contact with the real world through the telephone, and to reduce anxiety, you need a step by step approach, starting by small steps.

1st: it cannot be a therapist, who is already a trustworthy person
2nd: it cannot be an old friend or relative, same reason as 1st.

So, which information service, company, church, would you call, asking some meaningful information and what would you ask?

[volatile]

So is the point to reduce anxiety or gather important information?
I was going to tell you to open the phone book and just call random places and ask about random things. Like call a roofing company and ask about their pricing or an electronics shop and ask about a specific thing you need but maybe don't actually need. Call home-Depot and ask about their selection of flowering plants.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by also_depr

Whom would you call to reduce your telephone anxiety?

It's clear that sometimes we need to enter in contact with the real world through the telephone, and to reduce anxiety, you need a step by step approach, starting by small steps.

1st: it cannot be a therapist, who is already a trustworthy person
2nd: it cannot be an old friend or relative, same reason as 1st.

So, which information service, company, church, would you call, asking some meaningful information and what would you ask?

actually there are other modes of communication in the real world besides the telephone...

examples

talking in person face to face

around here where I live and work chat rooms / instant messaging are considered real time because its talking to someone right then and there and can be a family member, or friend or other persons we work with/ or need to talk with.

our digital television has real time talking capabilities like skype,/ chat rooms / instant messaging

my nephews Xbox has real time chatting capabilities so that he can be playing a game and talking in real time with his friends, family, and who ever else his parents allow him to talk with in real time on his X box.

my wife's and my computers are set up[ with cams/mikes and have programs that allow us to talk with our friends, families, treatment providers, clients co workers...in real time.

that said hypothetically if I had a telephone phobia or telephone anxiety problem I would not be talking to someone by way of the phone. that would be like expecting me to be n a room full of bees when Im allergic to bees, or exposing myself on purpose to something that causes me to have trouble breathing, dizzyness, heart palpitations that feel like Im having an heart attack....and other extremely mentally and physically painful feelings that I have with my anxiety problems.

most people that I know avoid what triggers them into an anxiety attack, not choose to engage in what causes them to have an anxiety attack. those that I know that do in fact have a problem with telephones use other modes of communication such as seeing someone in person, writing a letter, emailing, sending a message to the person on social networking sites or chatting in real time modes in social net worknig sites, chat rooms and instant messaging. I even know someone who refuses to have a phone in their home or on their person because doing so causes them to panic/hallucinate/ have trouble breathing...

those that I know (including me in this) with panic anxiety problems can be quite creative in finding other modes to do things other than engaging in what causes them panic and anxiety.

[also_depr]

The point is to reduce anxiety, asking for simple information in a context where probably no discussion will arise.

#1. Create a situation and practice it with a friend or family member on a real telephone.

#2. Try writing out your questions on paper. Make sure you have the paper with you when you make your call, so that you will not forget.

#3. Do not draw attention to yourself. Just discuss what you are calling for.

[Leed]

I also get anxious in certain situation on the phone. So I do what was suggested. I write out a "script." I write down the EXACT question I want to ask, and I anticipate what the person's answer will be -- if it's a logical type question and I can anticipate the logical answer of course.

So then I write down the next question or my next response, etc. By then I'm starting to get a little more comfortable and of course I can't keep anticipating the questions/answers now either. LOL

It usually works out by that time, and i can handle it. If I can't, I just explain that I'm very anxious or nervous and the person on the other end is always understanding -- at least they have been so far and I've been doing this a LONG time. I'm 63 yrs old, if that tells you anything! LOL

Best of luck and God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Odee]

If I could find my phone, I would say that you could call me and we would only talk for 10 minutes. I lose my cellphone a lot.

Originally Posted by volatile

So is the point to reduce anxiety or gather important information?
I was going to tell you to open the phone book and just call random places and ask about random things. Like call a roofing company and ask about their pricing or an electronics shop and ask about a specific thing you need but maybe don't actually need. Call home-Depot and ask about their selection of flowering plants.

This might be great for an aspiring performer, but I think asking someone with telephone anxiety to improvise while on the phone would be guaranteed to make them feel like they have failed.

[also_depr]

most people that I know avoid what triggers them into an anxiety attack, not choose to engage in what causes them to have an anxiety attack

I try not to avoid it, but to get used to it in a progressive manner. It's like an allergy, step by step, you need to get small doses of it to get cured.

So, therefore I need ideas about whom to call.

[wing]

All these are great suggestions. I especially like calling places where you have no intention of going, or interest in the subject. Good practice.

For me, pacing while I'm on the phone channels some of my anxiety. It helps me stay on the line longer and focus more on what the person is saying.

Communication over the net is my favorite method, but I tend to isolate when I depend on that.

[volatile]

Originally Posted by Odee

This might be great for an aspiring performer, but I think asking someone with telephone anxiety to improvise while on the phone would be guaranteed to make them feel like they have failed.

I'm sorry.

[sunblossom]

some days are better than other with the phone but generally I feel pretty anxious about using it. Trying to get through to a human being via the endless selection of this or that number.... sends me into an anxiety meltdown in no time. I can't seem to stay focused long enough and end up having to go back to the beginning until I finally give up and flail the phone across the room.

If I must make a call, I do as others have suggested, write down an opening script and list of questions. Still there is no guarantee I will make it to the end without feeling so overwhelmed at some point that I won't be able to talk without breaking into a meltdown cry and end up hanging up the phone unable to even explain why or say goodbye.

If I am going to encounter a 'pick-one' recording and I know my anxiety is high, most days, I will try to find someone to make the call for me. If they can get me to a real person I will try to finish the call but then keep my friend on the other phone just in case I fall apart and need them to take over.