I have to call ten incoming freshman in my link group for school and tell them when orientation is, where to go, etc. I have a HUGE problem with phones....like a phobia. I hate talking on the phone, especially to strangers. Does anyone have any tips on how to overcome this, or get it done easier? haha some of you probably think this sounds stupid, maybe i'm just weird heh. :\

advice would be appreciated!

I don't like talking to strangers on the phone either. The only advice i can give you is to just get it over with quickly and it might not be as bad as you thought it would be.

This will probably won't help you, but at the same time, it might cheer you up. I don't have advise because I'm the same way. All my life I've procrastinated making what would seem to be simple phone calls, and I've never really understood why. So ... you're not the only one with that "phobia".

well, i dont know if this will help but i usually just write down EXACTLY what I have to say (including the persons name cause Im known for calling people the wrong name on the phone...) and then pretend you're talking to someone you know well.

Why don't you rehearse the call in your head a few times? That's what I do because... well...I'm the same way. I always think about exactly what I'll say and just try and memorize it

:eek:

You know how much better you just made me feel? I HATE calling people on the phone! It's been a phobia of mine for years. My folks think I'm nuts.

I'll tell ya, a couple summers ago I took this journalism class. For one of the projects, they made us write for the campus newspaper, which meant calling complete strangers. I was so scared I wanted to cry and bury my head in the sand. I put it off as long as I could until I just took a deep breath and picked up the phone. It was nerve wracking, but you'll fell better when you can just put it behind you. :)

I did it! haha

Good thing I called during the middle of the afternoon because I got a lot of answering machines and I couldn't pronounce some of their names! Wouldn't want to embarass myself ;)

ew I still don't like phones though.

Originally posted by MaidenMalt
I did it! haha

Good thing I called during the middle of the afternoon because I got a lot of answering machines and I couldn't pronounce some of their names! Wouldn't want to embarass myself ;)

ew I still don't like phones though.
Congrats!!! Good for you!!!!

I hate the phone, too. I thought I was the only one. Talking to people you don't know can especially be frightening.

Originally posted by MaidenMalt
I have a HUGE problem with phones....like a phobia. I hate talking on the phone, especially to strangershaha some of you probably think this sounds stupid, maybe i'm just weird heh. :\
OMG, I hate calling people on the phone, whether or not they are friends even. That's why I always e-mail them. That's my main form of communication! I can identify with this "phobia!" But sorry -- don't know any way to get over it cuz....I haven't! No, it's not wierd to me! :happyface :happyface :happyface

Originally posted by Jordan
why I always e-mail them. That's my main form of communication!

Oh, isn't that wonderful? Especially when it comes to teachers. All my teachers in college will give their phone numbers along with their emails and I always say to myself "You're nuts if you think I'm calling you!"

OMG OMG OMG I thought I was the only one with this phobia.I am the same way I HATE calling people on the phone.My parents also think it's weird.

Wow. Add another person to the list who has trouble talking on the phone.

Jinkies! I never knew phone phobias were so common! As a child I was so scared of the phone that once I actually hid in the garage cos my mother said that I had to answer the phone if it rang that afternoon cos she was going to be in bed!
My advice to the person who started this thread is to write down what you want to say and read it over a few times before you actually pick up the phone. The more you use the phone the easier it'll get. Like I said, I used to be so scared of the phone but now at my job I make and recieve calls at least 10 times every day.
Don't worry, you'll be fine. Good luck! :)

Like everyone else said, write down what you're going to say and rehearse it before you make the call. And look at it this way, the people you're calling are probably going to be just as uncomfortable as you are.