2007-03-04 05:48:43 · 15 answers · asked by Inno 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Just a thought which might be helpful. First of all there are some people who are not wired for certain activities such as telephoning. I am such a person. Logic then tells me either I hate phone conversations or I am afraid of them. Neither is true. Just like the inventor who cannot learn the multipjication tables though he has a PHD. The deal is that if you thought you were afraid at one time and believed you were, it would be difficult to convince you that it was not so by now, right?
Have you tried NLP ? I have a hunch it would work fine to discover exactly what is the problem if there is any. I have other possibilities but until I know more info this will do.
2007-03-10 11:08:11 · answer #1 · answered by canron4peace 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's kinda like asking someone 'how do I get from here to there?' Since I don't know where 'here' is (or how you got there) and I only have a vague idea where 'there' is (since its a place you want to get to), how can anyone begin to start helping you.
Having a fear of answering and/or calling people on a phone is not the actual fear. That is simply the repesentational fear that is standing in place of the real fear. In other words, what are you afraid of that the telephone represents?
Not everyone with telephobia has it for the same reason, the same as everyone with anxiety is not anxious about the same thing. The process by which you developed your phobia has as much to do with how to get rid of it as the phobia itself. If you're asking to get to the store and you are in a ditch, how you got in the ditch helps the person get you back to the road, usually by retracing the steps and doing something different, so that you can get to the store.
And don't forget, once you understand your fear, you still have all the incidences of the fear as your only 'experience' when you start to hesitantly begin to heal from it. Knowing why you hate steak is not going to erease the dozens of times you went out to a restaurant and other people tried to make you eat some.
So, don't feel like you have to 'force' yourself to get over your fear yesterday, because that feeling of being forced will only reinforce the negativity surrounding the phone.
As for something to help, try this: get a child's phone to play with, one of those big plastic phones with a goofy face on it. Have someone you trust sit in the room with you, and 'talk' on the phone to that person. Maybe even get that person talk to you on a silly phone themselves. Although it may sound or feel silly, having that 'experience' will be something positive and harmless that you can use to build upon against all the 'negative' experiences you have had.
2007-03-04 09:20:31 · answer #2 · answered by Khnopff71 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Its quite common, so dont worry. try to call a friend or family for a safe person. Otherwise try a chat room or a computer reply service where at any point you can stop the call, that way you have control.
You might try a clinical psychologist or therapist but then you will be paying anything up to $200 per hour
2007-03-04 05:54:58 · answer #3 · answered by kenjinuk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up information on Systematic Desensitization. You take slow steps towards actually using the telephone. It's a great technique used with a client who fears something. You might also want to find your reason for this fear and work on that as well.
2007-03-04 07:59:13 · answer #4 · answered by elimayme 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You say that as if it's a bad thing. If anything your not a slave to phone communication. Granted if push come to shove and there was an emergency I am sure if your daughter or son was pinned under the book case you would be calling someone to help.
2007-03-04 06:03:03 · answer #5 · answered by Kill_Me_Now! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea. I pick up the phone just to call my sis and say hi and hang up. I am totally the opposite. Find out why you are so scared of the phone first.
2007-03-11 15:15:17 · answer #6 · answered by Mary 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
face your fear, one phone call at a time
2007-03-12 06:28:21 · answer #7 · answered by Kathleen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I second the Systematic Desensitization answer. It works well. You should be able to find a Psychologist in your area who can help you work through the process.
2007-03-10 09:56:02 · answer #8 · answered by Pahd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) find out why you're afraid, and remove the source of the fear.
2) do lots of talking on the phone
3) Accept Jesus as your Savior. He will remove all your fears.
2007-03-11 13:21:06 · answer #9 · answered by Rick 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Get a job that gives you no choice but to use the phone.
2007-03-04 05:54:05 · answer #10 · answered by texansis 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋