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Facing the fear of the phone: How to overcome social anxiety and regain control of phone calls?
It’s not uncommon for people to find themselves nervous or even terrified about answering or making phone calls. According to research, this phenomenon is called "telephobia" and it is a manifestation of social anxiety. According to the survey, as phone usage increases, more people are choosing to distance themselves from the technology, leaving them facing more serious communication difficulties. So, how do you overcome this fear?
Causes of Telephone Phobia
There are many reasons for telephobia, ranging from a fear of communicating directly with another person to a fear of making a mistake during a call. Many victims feel confused and panicked when they receive a call, often thinking the caller may have bad news or is just a prank.
The ringing of the phone is often the trigger for a chain of anxiety, bringing to mind the pressure to talk, perform, and socialize.
Feelings and symptoms
People with telephobia experience a range of anxiety-related symptoms. These symptoms often include:
- Nervous stomach
- Sweating palms
- Heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
These symptoms can occur within a split second of wanting to make or receive a call, or even be apparent during the act of doing so.
The impact of this fear on personal life
The telephone is essential for daily life and access to a variety of services, so telephone phobia has a considerable impact on people's lives. Many people avoid activities that require phone calls because of this fear, which affects their work and social life.
Coping strategies
There are ways to help patients who are dealing with a fear of the phone. First, planning your call ahead of time and practicing it can reduce anxiety. Patients can also reduce psychological stress if they can make calls in a private environment. In addition, many people ask relatives or friends to answer the phone or use voicemail only to avoid direct telephone communication.
With the popularity of social media and instant messaging tools, many people with telephobia prefer to communicate via text rather than phone calls.
Available treatments
There are many types of treatments for telephobia, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and exposure therapy. Patients can gradually increase the frequency of phone use, starting with simple phone calls and then gradually challenging themselves to have conversations with different people.
Practice and exposure to dental fear situations are important parts of overcoming fear.
Conclusion
Telephone phobia not only affects one's daily life, but also causes trouble in work and social situations. With the right coping strategies and professional treatment, patients have the opportunity to overcome this fear and regain control over their conversations with others. So, have you ever had this experience and thought about how to regain control of your phone calls?
