[cool pilot dude]

(Original post by rainbow.panda)
For some reason I'm terrified of using the phone. I'm pretty shy but I'm usually okay in person but I get so scared when I have to speak to someone I don't know on the phone. It's especially annoying when I have to important things to sort out and they don't have an email address.

I never know what to say and I always think I'll explain something wrong and they won't have any clue what I'm on about and I'll get embarrassed. I'm supposed to call Student Finance today. I've been ordered to by my dad, neither he nor my mum understand why I'm scared of the phone. They just think I'm being awkward but I'm REALLY scared. I sent them a message on the SF facebook page but all they said was to talk to an advisor...yeh, thanks a lot! -_-

What's wrong with me?

I dont like doing this to.... One of the reasons is because I dont like wasting my credit

But yeah, I know what you mean because I had the same problem! Until I got a summer apprenticeship job in a call center last year.

I was really strugling (cant spell) to speak. One of the worst things was that sometimes the job would be to try and make sales and do surveys over the phone and the responses of some people were shocking! But that made the job kinda fun as me and my work buddies used to joke and vent about it. Plus I would fun to be annoying people

Anyways, just plan what your going to say in your mind and take a deep breath before dialing or picking up the phone. And remember, these people dont know you and cant see you and you dont know them or cant see them!

[rainbowbex]

I'd rather avoid it, so like text rather than call people I don't know very well because I feel less awkward, but it is true that the more you do it the more comfortable you become, and I don't think anyone likes doing it!

[BeccaAnne94]

I have exactly the same problem, apparently I sound like my younger siblings when I'm on the phone so I hate answering it if they think I'm someone else .
I also prefer speaking to people face-to-face, I'm pretty much lost on the phone because I can't see their facial expressions (it really bothers me).

I try to write down the general stuff that I need to say beforehand (especially if it's an important call), it helps me to stay coherent

[JoeK]

Yeah, I kind of had this. Funnily enough it was calling the likes of Student Finance and universities etc that helped me to get over it. Writing some stuff down can help, so if you get lost you can quickly move on to the next point or something. The only way is practice really

[SparksInTheSky]

I used to be like that, still am to a lesser extent. One thing that really helped was to write a script. Literally word for word. Practice it a couple of times. Get comfortable in a chair with pens and paper before you for taking notes and maybe a cushion for comfort. Speak clearly and slowly, remember to breathe. Eventually you will realise you can survive phone calls and the fear will gradually lessen.

[restoration]

I don't like it haha but I have gotten so used to it now because of work it doesn't bother me as much anymore... I used to write down what I was going to say, but don't need to anymore unless I am talking about something really complicated. Working on a busy ward sorted out my fear

[Ras17]

(Original post by rainbow.panda)
For some reason I'm terrified of using the phone. I'm pretty shy but I'm usually okay in person but I get so scared when I have to speak to someone I don't know on the phone. It's especially annoying when I have to important things to sort out and they don't have an email address.

I never know what to say and I always think I'll explain something wrong and they won't have any clue what I'm on about and I'll get embarrassed. I'm supposed to call Student Finance today. I've been ordered to by my dad, neither he nor my mum understand why I'm scared of the phone. They just think I'm being awkward but I'm REALLY scared. I sent them a message on the SF facebook page but all they said was to talk to an advisor...yeh, thanks a lot! -_-

What's wrong with me?

I rang Student Finance to get some help only a few days back myself and the lady I spoke to was absolutely lovely. She was very helpful and was prepared to answer any questions I had in detail - even ones that sounded quite silly

This is their job - talking to people - so don't worry about sounding stupid or anything of the sort. They're there to answer questions and there's no such thing as a stupid question.

Deep breath, ring them up and you'll be fine. Plus once you do it the first time, it will really help with your confidence.

I know exactly how you feel because sometimes I talk too fast and my words aren't always clear on the phone. I don't know if it's because of the speed I talk or I don't enunciate my words enough but you'll find the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Ring them and see for yourself

[thisisLiveTv]

yes but for a different reason. this http://www.sellmymobile.com/image/558133/

[The Entity]

Such a weird thread.

Why would you be scared?

For the people who answered yes to the thread title...is it speaking to randomers on the phone or people you know?

So for example, if you were to order a Pizza or a Chinese on the phone...would this scare you or not?

[chocolate buttons]

I'm good at ANSWERING a phone call, it's just calling someone (a stranger) is what I'm scared about!

[rainbow.panda]

(Original post by The Entity)
Such a weird thread.

Why would you be scared?

For the people who answered yes to the thread title...is it speaking to randomers on the phone or people you know?

So for example, if you were to order a Pizza or a Chinese on the phone...would this scare you or not?

I'm shy anyway but I can talk to people in person, just not on the phone. It's weird. It might be because I mainly use emails/texts/facebook to contact people, I've not grown up having to actually call people.

[The Entity]

(Original post by chocolate buttons)
I'm good at ANSWERING a phone call, it's just calling someone (a stranger) is what I'm scared about!

(Original post by rainbow.panda)
I'm shy anyway but I can talk to people in person, just not on the phone. It's weird. It might be because I mainly use emails/texts/facebook to contact people, I've not grown up having to actually call people.

So guys i assume you have ordered a Pizza by phone?

How scary is this for you?

[CyclopsRock]

So glad there is a thread for this. I didn't quite know how to it it.

I've always been a texting kinda guy. I don't like speaking on the phone at all. It all came about one day in 1998. I'd been waiting all day for a phone call back from Otis on CBBC to discuss my favourite Thunderbird. (It's Virgil btw.)

The phone rang. I was so excited! I jumped up from my makeshift den and galloped over.

'little boy', the woman said at the other end, 'I've just ran over your dog.'

Biscuit. My pal, my friend, my chucklebutty.

And that's the last time I ever spoke on the phone.

[aljolson]

(Original post by Tommyjw)
You get used to it. I used to be kinda the same, but i just dealt with it

Just be prepared. Could go extreme and have stuff written down in front of you, everything you need to say, ask, mention etc Even full on script if you are that scared, and youll get used to it eventually.

This is sound advice, you should always have things written down, questions to ask, aswell as documents.
I hate phones full stop. I am not scared to speak to others I just think we rely too much on them. Maybe rainbow could join a debating society, a great way to improve ones communication skills.

[aljolson]

(Original post by rainbow.panda)
For some reason I'm terrified of using the phone. I'm pretty shy but I'm usually okay in person but I get so scared when I have to speak to someone I don't know on the phone. It's especially annoying when I have to important things to sort out and they don't have an email address.

I never know what to say and I always think I'll explain something wrong and they won't have any clue what I'm on about and I'll get embarrassed. I'm supposed to call Student Finance today. I've been ordered to by my dad, neither he nor my mum understand why I'm scared of the phone. They just think I'm being awkward but I'm REALLY scared. I sent them a message on the SF facebook page but all they said was to talk to an advisor...yeh, thanks a lot! -_-

What's wrong with me?

Talk to mom or dad, tell them how you feel and ask them to be with you, if they can, to help and advise you. good luck.

[canŵio]

yay i like this thread, i thought i was the only one!!
i'm a fairly outgoing person, i feel fine talking in front of an audience, i speak to new people easily. face to face my communication is very good. but when it comes to talking on the phone my palms start sweating and i feel sick.
i don't even like it when i talk to people i know, like my parents or my boyfriend!

it gets better the more i do it and once i'm talking i'm fine. but it's still horrible! i also hate talking to people in shops.

[thunder_chunky]

I (partly) work in IT support and sometimes I find myself tripping over my words when trying to help someone and not so much stuttering but hesitating the more I do it. It effects my confidence sometimes.

It's frustrating.

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

I used to be, but now that I'm thinking about it, it really doesn't bother me anymore! I can't tell you when it changed, but it's literally only just occurred to me that I'm fine with it now.

[jamiek]

(Original post by rainbow.panda)
For some reason I'm terrified of using the phone. I'm pretty shy but I'm usually okay in person but I get so scared when I have to speak to someone I don't know on the phone. It's especially annoying when I have to important things to sort out and they don't have an email address.

I never know what to say and I always think I'll explain something wrong and they won't have any clue what I'm on about and I'll get embarrassed. I'm supposed to call Student Finance today. I've been ordered to by my dad, neither he nor my mum understand why I'm scared of the phone. They just think I'm being awkward but I'm REALLY scared. I sent them a message on the SF facebook page but all they said was to talk to an advisor...yeh, thanks a lot! -_-

What's wrong with me?

To be fair, im not scared to use the phone as such, but it does corss my mind sometimes about radiation beaming out of my mobile and what that might do to me over the years of use...

[I'm_Unsafe.]

This has become much less of a problem for me since being in France. After HAVING to talk to people on the phone in French, I appreciate simply being able to explain things in a language I understand completely. Sure, I still get a bit nervous but I know I'm not stupid and it's their job to help out with your problems so there's no point being terrified.