Why am I afraid to use the telephone?

Since high school I've slowly developed this aversion to using the telephone. Whenever my cell phone rings, unless it's my Mom, boyfriend or best friend I get a sense of dread and don't want to answer it.

I also really hate talking to strangers over the phone unless it's something quick like ordering a pizza. The other day I had to call a realtor about a house I want and I was incredibly uncomfortable the entire time.

I prefer to email, im or talk in person. I tried to get over my fear by using the phone a lot, but each time is just as hard as the time before. It doesn't get any easier.

Ha, I'm worse than you. I don't want to talk to anyone on the phone nor in person nor anywhere ever, except my wife and kid. Everyone else is scary to me, full of rejection and anger, and it turns out I embarrass everyone who knows me so the less I appear in public the better for everyone. I'm like the last human being in "I Am Legend" surrounded by the new race who's taken over the earth, and they're all vampires and they all hate me and they want to kill me because I'm not like them. And you know how that book ended?

Many people have phobias over much less. I would have had an aversion to phones seeing "A Nightmare On Elm Street," where the tongue comes out of it. Phones really are germy.

Is it really a fear of the phone or you just dont like to talk to people that way...It is natural...the telephone is not normal to the humans to be able to just hear a voice and not see or feel someone..you cant read them..you dont feel in control of your opinion of the whole situation...this is normal...and in my opinion wise...you cant look into their eyes to see if they are being real or not...hope it helps

i've been there too!!! .just remember that the other person is'nt doing too good either. now every time any company agent calls me i just make fun of him coz they aint allowed to be rude with you, or if any stranger calls me i act annoyed.so that he's uncomfortable ,not me

i think it's because before piciking up the phone you are scared that there might something dreadful have happened and for talking to strangers I am also like this I just don't feel comfortable and when my mum asks me to talk to my isurace consuller i just ask her to come over yo my home. I really become confused sometimes and don't understand what is the person saying and I don't even feel comfortable talking to my best friend either.

I know what you mean, though I'm in high school and I've had it for the past few years. I'll do it if I have to, but I really prefer not to.

It is the most unnatural form of communication. With face-to-face, you can read people, understand them better from their postures, their faces, etc. It puts you more at ease. With writing, you can put more thought into what you say, and feel better about how you said it. Especially if you're an English geek who likes careful word choice. But when you're talking on the phone, there's no time to carefully formulate answers, AND you can't see them. Then there's the potential for awkward silences that aren't as bad in person.

I don't think I could ever get over it completely, except with family and friends. Maybe some people are just more sensitive to it.

I have had the same thing, since high school. I used to stay on the phone all night, even fall asleep on it, and wake up still connected to the other person. I am 27, and still have not gotten over it. However mine might be a bit worse, I don't even like to talk to my mother , or even my best friends on the phone. I am not sure how to help you, as I have not figured it out. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone with this!

Im not calling you lazy. But one of my friends hates to answer her cell phone. Any time you call her even if you know she has her phone she will not answer. For anybody i've been around when she just presses the ignore button. She'll text you back if you text her tho.

Hey, me too!
Only I'm not comfortable with talking in person also, I just find it difficult to express myself unless I'm writing or typing.