phonebia

[straightstylin]

I know i'm taking a huge step by starting to do things I was scared of doing before and it has been helping. But I still have a phonebia ( my word for a phobia w/ phones :D ) but anyway I know just talking more on the phone would help but does anyone else have any tips for calming down or helping w/ repitions and blocks.

[JustKeisha]

Oh hey Wassup!

Congradulations on the little steps you taken.
Now that is a kick ass Name Phonebia, coz shoot, I had it bad, about two or three years ago, it was at a point where, if someone asked me asnwer it, I would work myself into a state, go away, and cry ... I mean damn I friggin cried, to me I think it's sad, but thats I what I use to do. Anyway Moving on, a year ago, I just started to develop some confidence back, due to gettin myself a job!, and overcoming my dear of ppl reacting to my stammer ... when I did this, I fount myself answerin the phone, Now I dont hesitate anymore ...

What I usually do to get myself going tho, is take a deep breath, wait for about two rings, I time it, so its kind of in rhythm for me, and I have no problem saying Hello. I usually do stammer on other words after that, but not always! .. advice, Just breath, talk slow, and take ur time, no need to rush :D Oh about the blocks, etc, I dont panick, I just carry on, take my time, and in due time the words will come out

[coercion]

I'm okay on the phone if it's a friend on the other end, but otherwise I can be pretty, uh, inconsistent. I remember a few months back I phoned up this courier company to check on a delivery, and my first line just came out as something along the lines of "faefk;leamfp;amfdasfmpfm[a,fsdal". Rather embarassing.

[straightstylin]

Thanks 4 the feedback, I guess I never really talked slow on the phone so that may be one of my problems right there, nows a good time to start. I'll give updates on how i'm doin :cool:

[Perad]

I did the same thing the other week, i had to phone up some job agencies and put it off for ages... then i just made myself do it and it went really well... so i phoned up a load more... the hardest part i find it just making myself pick up the phone, once i have done that i am a lot better.

[Flash]

The fear of telephones, noises or voices, or speaking aloud is called phonophobia. The fear of just telephones is telephonophobia. I got this info from http://www.phobialist.com/

I can relate to a lot of things you guys have said here. When the phone rings, i think to myself "should I pick it up or not"? A lot of the time when I done thinking and tell myself "yeah, just pick it up" it's over anyways and the answering machine comes on. Other times I just don't care and pick it up anyways.

I wish my parents would get Caller ID! :D I don't mind picking up the phone when I know it's a friend or family member. I just hate answering calls that come from stupid credit card companies, telemarketers, etc. But without Caller ID you kinda have no clue who it is unless your expecting someone to call.

When I make the call, I usually always try to talk fast and get everything out as quickly as possible and with one breath lol. Probably not the right thing to do, but sometimes it works if it's not too much to say. :) If i'm talking to friends or family I talk normally.

[Perad]

The fear of telephones, noises or voices, or speaking aloud is called phonophobia. The fear just telephones is telephonophobia. I got this info from http://www.phobialist.com/

I can relate to a lot of things you guys have said here. When the phone rings, i think to myself "should I pick it up or not"? A lot of the time when I done thinking and tell myself "yeah, just pick it up" it's over anyways and the answering machine comes on. Other times I just don't care and pick it up anyways.

I wish my parents would get Caller ID! :D I don't mind picking up the phone when I know it's a friend or family member. I just hate answering calls that come from stupid credit card companies, telemarketers, etc. But without Caller ID you kinda have no clue who it is unless your expecting someone to call.

When I make the call, I usually always try to talk fast and get everything out as quickly as possible and with one breath lol. Probably not the right thing to do, but sometimes it works if it's not too much to say. :) If i'm talking to friends or family I talk normally.


When a call comes it is sooo easy, mainly your answers are yes/no or wrong number. That or its a friend or family member. (Even better) You should never be concerned about answering the phone.

Making call's... the way i approach it is that if they are negative i hang up... they aren't worth my time etc. But i am pleasantly surprised when they wait patiently for you to talk.

[Flash]

When a call comes it is sooo easy, mainly your answers are yes/no or wrong number. That or its a friend or family member. (Even better) You should never be concerned about answering the phone.It's not just always "yes" or "no" or "wrong number." Although I wish they were! :D If it's wrong number, then you gotta say something like "I'm sorry but I think you have the wrong number." When a call comes in for someone else who isn't home you gotta say like "I'm sorry he/she isn't home right now....would you like to leave a message?"

Making call's... the way i approach it is that if they are negative i hang up... they aren't worth my time etc. But i am pleasantly surprised when they wait patiently for you to talk.So what your saying is that when you make a call, you instantly hang up? Weird! :rolleyes: lol I know you just made a typo, but I know what you wanted to say. Yes, sometimes if it is just crap then I'll hang up, but the thing is that sometimes you don't know what they are calling about at first and you have to speak for at least a little to find out.

[straightstylin]

Darn Dang Darn and I thought I made up a new word :mad: lol. Anyway just like u said I don't pick up the phone unless the caller id shows someone I want to talk to. But, lately I started picking up the phone more. And to justkeshia, your slow down and breath trick worked a lot :D . thanks

[cotton]

How would you all feel about talking to a stutterer on the phone? Would you still be nervous knowing the person on the other line feels the same way you do?

There's a website where people post their numbers willing to participate in lying an alibi so they can help a stranger get out of a situation -- like a bad date, or getting a day off from work. Maybe we can have a phone phobia site like that but for stutterers.

I just hate answering calls that come from stupid credit card companies, telemarketers, etc.

I put my # on the "do not call list" but I'm now thinking I should use the opportunity to talk to them and maybe annoy them while at it.

I also have phone phobia. My communication is ok on paper but I can't gather what I need to say to explain a problem on the phone especially when you have to repeat it all over again with a stutter. THen I think the companies must handle volumes of customers a day so if I sound stupid they won't remember me when their day ends.

If you think about it, if you received a call from a stutterer wouldn't you admire him or her for taking the challenge?