I Have a Phone Phobia!

I don't have suggestions for getting over it, but I will tell you that can I totally relate. I HATE talking on the phone! I almost never answer my phone unless it is my husband or my mom calling (and it drives my mother-in-law nuts), and sometimes my sisters. I would so much rather email or text. I even make myself 'invisible' when I'm online so I can choose when I chat with someone, rather than being surprised or interrupted by someone wanting to chat with me. It's sad, and I honestly wish it wasn't this way because I know my mom especially wishes I would call her more. I feel like I am becoming something of a hermit, because all I want to do is spend time with my husband and kids - which isn't bad, but I feel like I need to expand my social life so it doesn't just revolve around them ... but I don't know how. I guess I'll be checking back to see what suggestions others have.

Just know that you aren't alone in this phobia.

i do the same thing. i just get tired of answering calls. so i have a time of day that i turn off the ringer for a couple of hours. if it's important then they will leave a message. of course i always have my cell in case its an emergency but i just feel that people always think they HAVE to answer the phone whenever it rings. if i'm busy or don't want to talk then i don't answer. this may not be the kind of advice you're looking for but this is just how i feel

I can very much relate. I will check caller id, and even if it is someone I enjoy talking to, I either don't answer, or almost have to talk myself into answering. I also put off making phone calls--I don't know why. I don't have any suggestions to help you, but I will definitely be checking back to see if you get any helpful responses.

Wow, you pretty much described me with the husband traveling, still not caring to answer the phone and not feeling lonely! It is easier to text or email b/c you are really not investing of giving of yourself. You are already sacrificing so much in taking care of your son, etc. I do think it is okay sometimes, but not as a rule. I am in ministry and also super busy, so I often have to force myself to answer the phone, especially when I have so very few moments to myself. However, life is not just about my needs or comfort zone. Others need that connection with us. And even though you do not feel lonely, you still need to connect with and to be in community with others. It is important to not to isolate either yourself or your son. But, I think you probably feel that or you wouldn't have posted your question. Hats off to you for all you do to bless your son and family.

Do you have caller ID and voicemail? I don't like to answer the phone unless I know who it is and it's a good time for me and then I decide whether to answer it. If they leave me a message, I'll listen to it and call them back when it's convenient. I don't mind answering the phone. What I hate is making phone calls (particularly to people or companies I don't know very well). I'd prefer to email someone than call them myself.

I wouldn't say I have a phobia, but I much rather prefer to organize appts, playdates and other such online, I really don't like chatter, esp one on one with people. I am always at a loss as to what to say.

I think it comes from time. Example, my hubby and I and best friends from single hood days could spend hours on the phone, now, we just call each other to say things like "can you get the mail on your way in?" and such. Conversation is really over for a lot of us :(

Maybe you can start calling up old pals/relatives/husband and just practice "chattering".

My mom on the other hand went through a period when she wouldn't get on the phone for anything. She couldn't even call her automatic bank teller to check her account in case she "messed up" and she couldn't talk to people over the phone about selling her house and such, she had to release herself as the person to talk to and put us as the people in charge of answering questions.

Which is truly odd for her since she works in a busy medical office that deals with insurance companies/lawyer for medical claims for patients and she is always on the phone handling these things...

Hello L.,

I can relate! It seems like every time the phone rings is just after I crawled under something, climbed on something or put both hands into something! Oh, and don't forget the grabbing the kids to leave the house...that seems to be a definitely phone calls flood in. I also have a question for you... could it be the tone your phone has? I know it sound silly but some rings are so abnoxious that instantly put me in a bad mood. I don't know if you have call forwarding and would like to try forwarding the calls to your cellphone and changing the rigntones and see if it doesn't irritate you as much.

By the way, I'm NOT trying to convince you to answer the phone...but if you find a ringtone that doesn't irritate you... you can still ignore the calls and not be so irritated w/ it. Also, can you change it so the answering machine picks up after 2 rings, or better yet, directly to answering machine??

thinking about your question inspired me to google and look what I found: The RM-200 Magic Ringtone MP3 lets you use any MP3 track as your incoming home phone ringtone.
http://www.redferret.net/?p=8690
I've never heard of it but sounds cool. now I want one. LOL....
Good luck! ~C.~

Wow, I thought I was the only one with that problem. I have had the problem since I was in my teens and I'm now 34. I do have children, but not a special needs child, so I don't think it's related. I can't make appointments for myself or my kids. I have to make my hubby do it for me or even sometimes my own mother!!! I just get this anxiety and I don't know how to handle it. I would much rather text or email a person than talk on the phone!! Sorry, I'm not much help either, but it's nice to see I'm not the only one :)

I think it's great! Your son needs you and being wrapped up on the phone takes your complete attention away from him. I sometimes feel guilty because I get to gabbing on the phone and I know it's very neglecting to my children. My husband's mother talked on the phone while he was growing up so much that he HATES the phone. It was always just very painful for him when she held up her finger and said, "I'M ON THE PHONE!!!!" There were 5 boys in the house and they just ran wild! So I really try to limit it. I do the thing the other person responded and pick a time to return calls during the day. I should do better, though!
Hope this helps. I can't think of one kid who likes it when their mother is on the phone!

M.

I hate the phone too. I wonder if it comes from dealing with a special needs kid? I have one too. He is 21 though. And a 19 month old. My husband travels all the time and he is on the phone constantly even when he is at home. He talks to lots of friends all the time. Me - basically if I can't keep up over e-mail then I just don't talk to my friends that much. It is hard to talk with the baby around and when she is occupied or sleeping the last thing I feel like doing is talking on the phone. Sorry I can't help you because I have the same problem. Seems lately that my best friends are my online friends. Thank goodness for facebook because at least I do still keep up with some old friends that way.