Phone Calls Are Scary – I Hate Calling People

Phone Calls Are Scary

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I hate calling people on the phone. Hate it. I get a little heart racing panic every time. Whether it’s calling the mechanic to book my car in for a service, or calling my mum to ask if she can babysit the kids. I hate that moment when the phone is ringing and I don’t know what’s going to happen next.

Will they answer? What are they going to say? What if I bugger this up and words tumble out of my mouth like they do so often because nerves and talking don’t go very well together.

Throw in the fact that so many people use mobile phones these days and the variables of what will happen when they answer the phone are overwhelming. What if they’re out? What if I’m annoying them? Why did they answer the phone if they didn’t want to talk to me?!?

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If I’m asking a favour, or making plans – what if they say no?!

If I’m calling for a chat – because bizarrely I do actually like talking on the phone if I can survive the first 35 seconds – what if they’re busy? What if they say call back later AND I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALL OVER AGAIN?!?!?!?!?!?

That Time I Was A Telemarketer

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So at this point of my rant I’d like to point out that I worked as an outbound telemarketer for 9 months. First of all I was terrible at it. Every call before the person answered I’d be thinking “Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up.” 70 times a day. 350 times a week. Heart pounding. Utter dread.

AND THEN people genuinely didn’t want me to call them. No wonder I cried in the bathroom at work on more than one occasion.

But I’m An Adult

I do – most of the time – have to push through it. I will exhaust all other possibility to avoid calling first. Can I text this? Do I have this person’s email address? Is this something I can delegate to someone else? Obviously if the outcome I want is to talk to a friend on the phone the only way to do that is to call them.

Even if I do occasionally text first – just to make sure it’s a good time to call!

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And it’s not nearly so intense in reverse. When someone calls me there is that moment where I stare at my phone like it’s just turned into a spider and occasionally my mind flashes to the worst case scenarios; Why are they calling? Is something wrong? What did I do?!?!

If it’s an unknown number I usually leave it to ring for a moment until “What if they don’t leave a message and I never know who they are or why they called?” overrides the fear of answering. But it’s okay to call me. It’s fine. I’m fine.

And if you’re one of the few people who I will actually make a phone call to willingly consider yourself very loved.

Surely I’m not alone in this? Do you like calling people? Or do you have a mini-crisis every time you pick up the phone?

 

Rachel Stewart

Rachel is the founder of Parenting Central. She is raising two children, boy and girl, with her partner. Rachel is obsessed prams, car seats, carriers and all things baby. She has worked in the baby industry for several years, for both suppliers and also in a retail setting and has developed a passion for connecting parents with the right products to make their lives easier. When Rachel isn't playing with prams she's enjoys crocheting, drinking coffee (sometimes wine) and spending a little too much time on Facebook.

25 Comments

  1. I know they’re probably quicker to figure things out, but I prefer texting or written conversation ?I’m terribly nervous on the phone, and always making weird faces (teeth clenching, worried looks) as I’m conversing, though I mostly sound put together and calm ?

  2. The phone is a little bit scary. These days the only people that call me are telemarketers, so naturally I’m a bit slow to pick up the ringing phone.

  3. I’m not a fan of phon conversations, but for me, the worst is when you get an answering machine. I always end up sounding like an idiot on those

  4. I could have written this! Phone calls fill me with dread, and I have to work myself up for ages to make one. I often wonder how we’re not in a post-phone call world.

  5. Hahaha I avoid it at all costs at home- but at work, I don’t even think about it. I literally ring people to get them to do what I need them to do without even thinking about it!

  6. I don’t think many people have phone skills anymore. We’ve all fallen out of practice with texting and emails and social media.

  7. I’m not a fan anywhere but work, because there are so many other, easier options nowadays. But for work, often the quickest way is calling – stops the email ping pong (but yes, often I have to psych myself up too!)

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