Telephone Anxiety/panic

[alankay]

Emcee, if the stammering/stuttering is the main issue have you ever considered a beta blocker? Propranolol might be very helpful. It's better for stammering then atenolol since it's not cardioselective(your dr. will need to prescribe it and likely knows about it and prescribes it for similar issues for others). I use it for speeches/tense interviews. I used to work in a call center and it helped because it will reduce any shaking the other person on the line will hear. Then you'll develop more confidence and help you get desensitized to all this. Ask your dr. about maybe a trail of say 20mg to 30mg about an hour before starting work and having to answer calls. No side effects at 20 mgs I bet. Also maybe a course of an ssri will reduce your self consciousness so again you get desensitized to this all. The taper off/drop the meds. Message me any time.

[alankay]

Emcee, I'm assuming you don't have asthma or any heart problems/blood pressure issues.

[nowglad]

If I feel anxious on the phone, I have put it on speaker. I worked on house chores or some other task. I then begin to feel more at ease as my attention is on something other than my own voice.

[nik08]

You are not alone! I deal with the same issue. My husband doesn't understand it at all. I hate to call and make appointments or even answer my telephone unless it's someone I'm close with. And sometimes whenever I get off of the telephone, I feel like I've made a complete idiot out of myself. I don't know why.

[BeachLife]

I feel the same way! I won't talk on the phone with anyone unless they are family or close friends. I would
rather text than have someone call me. I hate when people ask me why I don't answer the phone.
I don't want to tell them that it's because I am worried I will not have anything to say or that I might
end up making myself look stupid. I hate it!