It seems like this is a huge problem for a lot of people! I actually have not to much trouble scheduling doctor's appointments, complaining about packages, asking when a store closes over the phone and my girlfriend greatly admires my ability to do this. But when a friend calls I let it go to voice mail more often than not and never call them back. Luckily most of my friends are texters...

I absolutely hate the phone. I ignore calls unless its my kids school or my gma (who is my rock)....other than that I don't answer the phone at all. I let it go to voicemail and either text or listen to the message and see if its worth calling back. If its not I just forget they ever called. Its caused problems before and on really bad days I won't even answer for my gma. Sometimes I go days before calling her back. What has helped me some is logging the name and telling myself if the name is saved answer the call...some days I can, some I can't.

I HATE phone calls. Personal/informal phone calls are the absolute worst for me. They make me really anxious and I have no idea why. If I don't have a really urgent reason to call someone, I normally prefer texting.

I have no difficulty being on the phone, professionally, either. It's strange. I can't explain it.

Do you have a really good friend or someone close to you who you may practice calls with? It might help you relax if you play out different conversation/ phone call scenarios with a friend.

There may come a time when you will have to deal with emergencies and you won't have a choice but to take or make the call.

I hope my suggestion helps.

I have the same issue but i dont work I am the one the schedules all the appts for everyone in my house & that is hard. I usually have to think about what im going to say on the phone before i can have a discussion without the panic attacks that come. Honestly my unwillingness to answer my phone when it rang or hiding when someone rang the door bell made me take a good hard look at what was happening to me. I finally got the nerve to ask for help because not being able to talk to people is a problem. I now see a therapist & receive EMDR light treatment & honestly I am starting to feel much better in that aspect. Unfortunately i am still having a very hard time going outside my door on my own. Understand that i really do get what you are going through on a physical & emotional level. All i can say is take one day at a time & please remember not answering the phone hurts you not the person on the other end. Just answering 1 call a day is a start & do that as long as you feel comfortable then try to increase to 2 calls a day. Its not a cure but i did learn the same way by taking everything 1 at a time. Stay strong!

I do not like talk to those people who call and try to sell me something that no one need. They talk too much and it take too long to get off the phone with them.

I suffer from this as well! Calling friends and family isn't hard, but calling a complete stranger is like mission impossible! I literally freak out when I have to call someone (example: MY BANK! O.o) and I always end up procrastinating and pushing the time I wish to call them further back. I always end researching about social anxiety and find tips on how to numb the fear long enough for me to make the call, but it always seems to come back. I sweat and my heart races as I pick up the phone and get ready to dial the number. This makes booking appointments extremely hard! I need to get a tooth extraction but where has all my courage to call my dentist gone? O.O My advice to you is to search online for tips on how to combat your fear whenever you have to call someone. When you read other people's stories, you don't feel so alone, and it helps you to slowly relax. It also helps to write down what you want to say, as you won't be lost for words when you have your notepad right there.

Damn. I thought I was the only one who had this. Same here. The anticipation of making a phone call gives me palpitations & sweaty palms. I know this probably sounds very odd, but I prefer face to face, than talking on the phone.

I completely avoid phone calls too and I'm glad to hear its not just my generation, like some people say it is, who'd rather text than call. I have to work up the courage to call people and only do if I absolutely have to. And I never answer the phone. I know I'll have to soon because my brother's going to college but I just can't. I especially hate when it's someone who's called a wrong number. It makes me insane. That, skype, and facetime. I agree with Xerith though. I can answer and make professional calls easily because there's a script to that. When I have to answer a personal call I hang up and text if I can

I also used to struggle with this very badly. I used to make my mom make all my calls for me and I would use any excuse to just communicate through texting or emailing. However, when I turned 18 and move out with my boyfriend I realized that its kinda impossible to function in the world without getting better at talking to people. I had to be able to pay the rent or make appointments, etc, by myself. I don't really have much advice on how to get better at this, all I can say is keep trying. As it got easier for me to talk to friends and family on the phone, it started to get a little easier to make doctor appointments, call my appt manager, and handle other things. Sometimes I still get pretty anxious before calling people, but i just force myself to do it, and I feel a lot better after I am able to. Trust me, it will get easier! (: just keep trying.

I do not like talking on the phone, I let most calls go to voice mail, I'd rather text than call.
Most of the time my phone is on vibrate so I can't hear it, I will check it from time to time to see if any calls.
If I'm at a family gathering and some family member calls from far away and the family wants to pass the phone around I want to leave, don't like the pressure to say a few words that mean something, which should not be so hard but it is, and. in front of others, I hate talking on the phone around other people. I pace while on the phone, can't sit still.

I always imagine that crickets sound when no one is talking because those awkward silences come up sometimes, and I feel blank. What do I say?

Maybe Idab you could somehow translate that feeling when you make calls at work to the personal calls? I can do that too, make business calls alright because their is less expectation to be yourself, which is hard, I can "be" someone else when I make business/doctor calls.

You fear the direct emotional connection or confrontation as i do. I don't text either.
I have run a business somehow for 26 years being totaly afraid of the phone even though it is the lifeline. Not sure how i managed.

Well I'm glad to read that there are a fair few other people who have this fear, talking on the damn phone!

Unlike a few posters I actually find it relatively easy to talk to close friends and family but struggle when it's someone I don't know.

I absolutely can't talk on the phone. I'm terrified to talk to people in general, even over the phone. When it's time to refill my pills, my mom has to call the pharmacy and pretend she's me, because otherwise they refuse to talk to her since I'm over 18.

I can't talk to people I know, except for my parents. It gets far too awkward. And I'm also pretty bad with strangers. I can do it, but I don't LIKE to do it, which is why I do everything online or over text if I can.

The last time I had to talk to someone on the phone was when I couldn't get my new cellphone activated and I had to call tech support. Luckily, I was super angry and frustrated so that helped with the anxiety.

That's fine. I'm sure at some point you'll find the ability to talk on the phone.