Weblog Wannabe

24 Mar 2004

Telephonophobia

Wednesday  •  09:49 PM  •  152 words

A few of you might know that I have a telephonophobia or fear of telephones. I fear answering phone calls, making a phone call, and talking on the phone. When I’m on the phone, my brain just freezes and I turn into a moron.

This afternoon I took about an hour or so just to get myself to make a phone call to a travel agency to check for airfares and stuff and guess how long the conversation lasted? Less than three minutes! And the travel agent hung up on me even though I still had a few more questions! How rude!

I know that I should have made another phone call to another travel agency, but that can wait. Making one phone call a day is more than enough for me. I don’t even know why I have a cellphone. It’s not like anyone ever calls me. Not that I mind.

Quacks on Telephonophobia

19 quacks  •  Closed
Neil T.  •  Mar 25  •  02:48 AM

I’m the same, I hate taking phone calls to people I don’t know, and not too good at taking them either. It’s why I like email.

Scott  •  Mar 25  •  03:27 AM

Me too!

Bookie  •  Mar 25  •  03:44 AM

That’s strange, I know so many people who are afraid of telephones(myself included)
I wonder why that is.

Michael  •  Mar 25  •  05:03 AM

Can you do the booking stuff online?

C. E. Laine  •  Mar 25  •  05:35 AM

Wow. It’s reassuring (misery loves company??) to know there are others (who are not genetically tied to me) who have this fear. My mother and I refer to it as “Phone Phobia” (PP is the abrev, LOL). Some days it isn’t as bad, while others I’d rather walk on broken glass.

monkz  •  Mar 25  •  07:49 AM

Me too me too. Part of the reason is because I really don’t want to interrupt or disturb someone… but also because… I don’t know, I just don’t like using phones.

Harris  •  Mar 25  •  08:50 AM

Sounds like me. I wince when my phone rings and I often miss my cell phone calls because I don’t recognize the ring. That happens less now, but sometimes I just don’t hear it. I much prefer email or instant messaging to talking on a phone.

bug  •  Mar 25  •  10:15 AM

I also have a cellphone but use it rarely. But I can’t say I have telephonophobia. I also didn’t know there was such a thing. I understood if from its title though: telephono (telephone in greek) and phobia (fear in greek). You like words ending in *phobia or something? ;)

Great weblog once more. Keep it up.

Samuel  •  Mar 25  •  11:57 AM

I’m totally on your opposite, I can talk on the phone over and over.…

bayibhyap  •  Mar 26  •  09:16 PM

Having a cellphone is no big deal. Those who don’t have one long to have one. When the novelty of having one wears off, it is looked upon as a nuisance! But then it is difficult to get rid of it as all your friends have your cellphone number. By then the cellphone has turned into a repulsive necessity!

bayibhyap  •  Mar 26  •  09:18 PM

And incidentally, while I don’t have telephonophobia, I still avoid or postpone making calls over the phone. I call it laziness!

Steven  •  Mar 28  •  03:06 AM

With me it’s not as bad as being a phobia, but I can’t say I enjoy making phone calls very much. Except maybe with very good friends.
I guess in general I want to *see* the people I’m talking to. (Make that *touch* for Someone Special)

Don’t you have to make calls for your work, Firda?

Samuel  •  Mar 29  •  09:00 PM

*ring…ring…ring*.…hello…hello…

Why there is no one answering my call ???

mc  •  Apr 12  •  10:56 AM

hooray! so i’m not the only one! my mom gets so mad at me because i refuse to call for pizza, to make appointments, etc. i just really really don’t like calling people i don’t know. i always feel really self-concious.

anon  •  Apr 12  •  07:34 PM

Yeh im the same i don’t like making phone calls and when i have to i sit there for ages with the phone in my hand daring to push the button to call and like i push it randomly and my heart jumps and i feel really self-conscious about ringing someone and talking to them. Email and text messaging is much easier! Though i don’t like them much either.

Dalen  •  Apr 14  •  03:05 PM

whoo…I sit and watch the phone as it rings…people should really call and tell me they are gonna call first. I am glad there are other people who feel the same.

chris burkhardt  •  Apr 16  •  02:02 AM

Wow, I’m really glad other people have this fear. I’ve got it bad. I can answer the phone now, most of the time, but making phone calls I get really nervous. Even to people I know. I spend a long time just holding the phone and sweating. The sillyness of it all.

Melissa  •  Apr 19  •  03:22 AM

Wow, there are other people in this world like me? I absolutely hate making phone calls. It makes my heart race and I want to puke? When the phone rings at work I feel my heart racing and I try to find anything so I don’t have to answer the phone. The problem here is, I’m a computer programmer and now the data aggregation manager and I have to make calls to the Board of Realtors asking for access to their data - which they hold so dear. EEEEK! I have to start diving into this … this week, oh geez. I just pray that by the grace of God I can do this. I hate the telephone. I don’t like calling to order a pizza, how in the world am I going to do this? eeek!

Fatima Jaffer  •  Apr 22  •  05:47 PM

Yeah!!!

i thought i was a freak because everytime i mentioned it, people would give me “you can’t be serious!” looks …

although i have to work at conquering it now with all the calls to editors and people to interview but i still prefer to drive somewhere rather than call the place.

I found this site while researching for an article on telephonophobia so thanx for putitng this up!!

From Kenya … where this fear sounds a whole lot wierd-er to people :)

{This discussion is closed. Thanks to all who participated.}