'Phone fear'...

[Cigaro]

This has been happening for at least 6 months now - everytime I speak on the telephone, especially to people I don't know (customers at work), I freeze up and can't get certain words out. I have no problems talking face-to-face, just on the phone...has anyone else ever experienced this?

[thegubner]

Only when ...........oh no hold on........nah sorry.

[Trixie]

[Dragonfly]

Mines the other way around i can talk on the phone for hours but when i get face to face i am not as chatty and go blank so people think i am weird when they meet me. maybe its because you need a face to talk to and not a phone in your case.
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Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[FreshAL]

Try to act as if you were talking to a real person

Smile, gesture with your hands if you do that. Definitely don't try and do 2 things at once. Give the person on the phone as much attention as you would if they were in front of you.

[yambabe]

Yeah. I developed a dislike of the phone so severe it was almost a phobia, although with me it wasn't talking it was actually picking the damn thing up and dialling the number that I had trouble with. I would get the shakes, break out into a sweat, couple of times even sat looking at the damn thing and crying.

Thing is mine was caused by my pregnancy hormones apparently and once I'd had the baby I went almost back to normal - not 100% though, I still am not as comfortable with the phone as I used to be.

So I doubt that your problem will have the same cause as mine somehow!
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[ncrn]

I get this when I'm talking to someone I don't know, like a call center of some kind. I tend to get my words jumbled up.

Strangely enough I've found walking round the room helps me a bit, whenever I'm on the phone I tend to get up walk over to the bed, sit there, get up sit at my pc, get up walk to the end of the room and back, go look out the window. For some reason it makes it easier for me to talk on the phone *shrugs*.
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[Handsome]

I used to get it when I was younger, now I just think about what I've got to say first then wing the rest...

After Bollocking Orange every other day for three months it doesn't bother me now...
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[Kwaks]

Yep, I get that, and as I have worked in telesales environments for years it is no laughing matter. I even hate phoning for a takeaway.


The trick at work is to act like someone else, works for me
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[bazza]

[st3v3]

quality 5 guessing deliberate though

I work in a call centre and for the not so nice times, try standing up, slow not-so-shallow breaths, and gesture with your hands, like you are having to really explain things, helps to think of something else and you will notice the difference

If your calls are recorded, try playing one back and listening, infinitely helps psychologically. HTH
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[J0Al1]

Gord I'm the opposite with customers. Its much easier on the telephone. I'm quite a little pro.

For me its all about control - I control the convo.

[J0Al1]

Why don't you practice with us. . . . . .. I'll give you my work number and you call me - Ill post a rating on here if ya like?

[Drew]

[J0Al1]

019 LOL

lol

[djr]

[hellkat]

You wanna come and deal with MY callers, Bassjunkie.


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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[MementoMori]

[st3v3]

[Nicky-Jano]

I had the exact same problem when I first had to use the phones to speak to customers at work.
My heart would start going like the clappers, sweaty palms and I'd stumble over words like hell .
But as with anything you get used to it.
It's scary now but keep at it and before you know it you won't be worrying at all.
You probably won't even notice the fear going and it'll just feel normal talking to strangers over the phone.

[Cigaro]

But I used to be able to do it fine.

This has only started in the last 6 months and I've been working in this job - phone tech support - for 3 years now.

[Dragonfly]

[Trixie]

[akaDAVE]

I think it is a perfectly natural human response to an unnatural device.
I find it difficult to use the phone too. When I started working I would be quite panicky as you describe.

My method was and is to use the phone more to confront it and simply build confidence.

You're probably somone who uses face to face signals more when communicating so it's normal that you get that anxiety about using the phone.

Just breath slow and don't try to rush a conversation.

I think it was your post I just read about giving up weed too!?

Trust me that will make a huge difference, once your mind clears you'll be a lot more relaxed and articulate with speech.
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[Nicky-Jano]

It doesn't have to be a work related incident to make you feel unsure of yourself.
Personal home stuff can make you feel really low at your job.
Are you having any problems at home etc?
Even something little can effect us.