The scene is familiar.
Imagine you are sitting on the couch, relaxed. Suddenly, your phone starts to vibrate. Then, a name pops up on the screen. It is an unsaved number, or maybe even a friend.
Your heart rate spikes. Your stomach drops. You stare at the screen, willing it to stop ringing. You wait for it to go to voicemail, and then you immediately text them: “Hey, sorry I missed you! What’s up?”
This is Phone Anxiety.
It is strange that we carry these devices everywhere, yet using them for their original purpose feels like diffusing a bomb.
Why Texting Feels Safe and Calling Feels Dangerous
Why do we hate calls?
It is because a phone call is “live.” You cannot edit yourself. You cannot backspace. You cannot take 10 minutes to think of a witty reply. You are on the spot.
Texting is controlled. On the other hand, calling is chaotic.
Consider this: For a generation that grew up editing their communication, the raw awkwardness feels like a threat.
3 Ways to Stop the Panic
Sometimes, you have to make the call. You have to book a dentist appointment or call customer service. Here is how to survive it.
1. Write a Script
The biggest fear is “I won’t know what to say.”
The Fix: Cheat. Write down exactly what you need to say on a piece of paper before you dial.
Write: “Hi, my name is [Name]. I would like to make an appointment for [Date].” Basically, reading from a script takes the pressure off your brain. As a result, you don’t have to think. Instead, you just have to read.
2. The “Walk and Talk”
Anxiety creates adrenaline. If you sit still, that energy has nowhere to go. Consequently, it turns into shakes or stuttering.
The Fix: Walk around. Pace the room.
In fact, moving your body burns off the nervous energy. You will find that your voice is steadier. Also, your brain works faster when your feet are moving.
3. Send a “Warning Text”
If you are calling a friend, the fear is often that you are interrupting them.
The Fix: Text first. Send: “Hey, free for a quick call?”
When they say yes, you have “permission.” You know they are ready to talk. Therefore, the fear of being annoying disappears.
Conclusion
Phone calls will probably never be your favorite thing. That is okay.
But they don’t have to ruin your day. Write your script. Pace around the room. Also, remember one thing. The other person is probably just as awkward as you.
Tell me in the comments: Do you answer numbers you don’t recognize, or do you let them go to voicemail forever?
