How did you get over/deal with the anxiety of a phone session/call?

Exactly what the title asks. I'm beside myself with anxiety at the thought. I've talked to my T once before for like 10 minutes as a trial but that was a few years ago. He sounds different on the phone (like even more ultra caring which makes my stomach turn).

The only reason I've agreed to the session is that I need someone to talk to and I can't physically get to an appointment due to an injury.

Thanks for any advice.

I hate the phone. I would do anything to avoid it but did have a few phone sessions with ex T. I got myself into a room, usually it was darker though not pitch black. Made sure I was comfortable. In the end I found phone easier to say some things I wanted to say as I couldn't see her face.

I'm not one for long phone conversations, either. Do you have any techniques for dealing with anxiety generally? Breathing exercises or whatnot? For me, I find my anxiety is helped ENORMOUSLY when I burn off a bunch of exercise doing something else--hardcore house-cleaning and yard work, for instance.

Hope you find something that works for you.

I've spoken to my T on the phone quite a bit, and I actually really like it. Not as much as I like seeing her in person, but I still like it. One thing that helped with the initial anxiety for me was getting super comfy and having blankets and stuffed animals while I was on the phone. I know it sounds a bit childish, but I find it very comforting and relaxing. You could also try doing something while on the phone to distract a little bit and maybe feel less anxious. Like talk while you drive or while you cook or something.

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Could you do a Skype call? We often go on skype when necessary, and I find it easier than the phone. When I do have to have a phone call instead, I set myself up on a comfortable chair and use the speaker function. I would also have lots of notes in case I lose my thoughts about what I want to discuss.

thank heavens you have a T and talk on the heaven! I would love that option but i don't have it. I am happy for you... blessings! tc

I never have. I had a hard time even reading the title of this thread.

Ugh....I know....I'm supposed to do one later this week but I've already gone back and forth in my mind a dozen times on whether or not I should cancel it. I'm finding I have actual nausea at the thought.

Sorry, you don't have the option of canceling -- hope it works out for you.

Energy, when I burn off a bunch of ENERGY, not exercise.

The first time I had a phone session, I was super anxious. I told my T right off that I hate talking on the phone and that I was anxious. We spent a few minutes talking about what might make it easier to have the phone session. I decided that since I couldn't see her, I needed lots more verbal input from her. I needed to know she was engaged with me and listening. My T agreed to provide more feedback than she usually does in a face to face setting. I know there were a few other things that we agreed on that helped, but I don't remember now what they were. Just talking with T about how anxious I was and trying to figure out how to make the call easier let my anxiety go down enough that I could participate in the phone session.

I did phone sessions with my t for more than 2 years while she lived out of state. The first time I was nervous, it was weird, I said how do we do this? She said close your eyes and picture me sitting in my rocking chair, there's the little table, I see you sitting on the couch, you talk, and then I talk, and then you talk.... she kinda eased me into it and they got even more productive than in person in some cases, because I was more easily able to say the harder things since she couldn't actually SEE me on the phone. You know? I would email her my dreams or other things beforehand that I would normally have handed to her in person. Phone sessions worked really really well for me. I am glad she's back in town now and I'm seeing her in person again.... but for those 2 plus years while she lived out of state, they were great. I wish you the best!