Has anyone ever experienced this?

Question

-An absolute inabilty to perform a task or action due to a mental block or preventive process?

Understand that this means that there is no way that the individual afflicted can accomplish the task without someone else taking action on his/her part.

For instance, I cannot call people on the phone under particular circumstances. I am incapable. I can try to talk in person, but even then, they have to talk to me first. I can answer the phone, maybe, but I cannot initiate. This is very complex really, I don't want to get to much into it. Im just looking for other people's personal experiences of a similar nature, so maybe I won't feel so messed up about it.

Interesting responses, I suppose it might be hard for some to understand what I mean when I say I cannot. It isnt actually a choice or a fear. I want to, I have to call my boss... but I can only stare at the phone in my hand and for the life of me, not move except to put it back down. It's very complicated. I link it to my Asperger's syndrome that I have yet to receive formal diagnosis or treatment of and Im now 25!
It is a miserable affliction. I have suffered my whole life from it.

Answer 1

Yes,
Does not being able to go into the store alone count??

Or not being able to do something that involves the government alone count too?? I have to ask 20 questions to make sure I don't write something down wrong and get taken to jail or something lol

Or when givin instructions I ask 10 times if that's what I do or not.

*sigh* Yesh..... I feel your pain!
I never like being/doing things alone.

I almost always want someone helping me so if I mess up its not all entirely my fault!!

So, your not alone my friend.

Answer 2

Yep. Especially when you start talking about mental tasks ("Ok, this paper is due tomorrow, and I'm going to essentially fail out of school if I don't write it, but...my brain is all cloudy and I'm sleepy.")

So. In short, yeah. I've had that happen on a couple different things. Hopefully, though, you get into some kind of treatment that will at LEAST let you function, even if uncomfortably so.

Answer 3

Hmm... I get pretty shy about talking to new people in most situations. I usually don't want to call people unless I have something important to say. Then I just want to say that, and get off the phone. If I am ordering something, or need to speak with customer service I try my best to get someone else to do it just bc I hate it so much. Not sure if that is what you meant, never the less there's my answer.

Answer 4

Hi. I don't know what kind of mental blocks or preventive processes you have. Sometimes I had similar situations, even now I prefer to be contacted first, than contact someone myself. At some point I realized that if you want something to happen, it's you who have to initiate it. All depends on motives and what you want to get. I don't know if this is an answer to your question, but if you want to know more about iniative, contact me in IM and I'll tell you what helped me to get over this.

Answer 5

Is it a fear thing? I have been battling for years with a fear of talking on the phone. It's easier to pick up, because you HAVE to or else you only have to ring them back, which is worse. I create all sorts of problems for myself with a fear of making phone calls. Much rather use e-mail or text. No idea why. Hope you work through it!

Answer 6

Like another answerer, I too don't pick up the phone; rather let the machine do the job.
I guess with some 6 billion folks in the world, wew can't all be the same, eh?
Thank goodness.

Answer 7

You sound like a very educated, sensitive person. I don't have difficulty with phone conversations, but sometimes, I get tongue tied in face to face conversations, and I don't know why because I generally feel pretty good about myself. Wish I could help more, but I think with your intelligence you can get past this.

Answer 8

This might be a manifestation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. You might want to consider seeing a clinical psychologist for therapy or a psychiatrist for medication and therapy, whichever you prefer.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I have a phone phobia. I never call people if I don't absolutely have to. I don't even answer the phone, I let teh machine pick up.

Answer 10

You have made yourself believe firmly what you asserted above. You may also do not want to do what you said you could not do -- and you could have good reasons, too, although they sometimes are so deep in the subconsciuos level of your mind that you may not seem to understand why.