Do I Have Phone Anxiety?

Do you feel extreme anxiety before or after interacting over the phone?

Do you delay in making or answering phone calls because of extreme anxiety?

Do you stress about embarrassing yourself?

Do you avoid making calls or having others call you because of anxiety?

Do you obsess about what was said after calls?

Do you worry about what you will say over the phone?

Do you worry about bothering someone when calling that person?

Do you experience physical symptoms, such as an increased heart rate, nausea, shaking, and/or trouble concentrating related to interacting over the phone?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely you have phone anxiety. It’s normal that you may be afraid to use the phone, because you maybe feel more comfortable in direct social interactions. Face-to-face settings allow us to read non-verbal cues. However, those who suffer from phone anxiety may hesitate to make and receive calls because they experience severe anxiety, shortness of breath, or a racing heart related to interacting through the phone. Phone anxiety is a common fear among those with social anxiety disorder.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of phone anxiety. The extreme fear of making and receiving phone calls can interfere with your personal and professional life. It’s important to take this condition seriously; the anxiety can be real and terrifying. A phone fear may reflect problems you are dealing with concerning interaction with other people in general. It may be important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor, before they get worse.

Unfortunately, you are displaying signs typically seen among individuals who have phone anxiety. If you feel extreme anxiety before or after interacting over the phone, it may be important o seek medical help. Although answering the phone seems like something simple that everyone can do, for people with phone anxiety it can be extremely terrifying. Treatment for phone phobia can include cognitive-behavioral therapy, such as cognitive restructuring and exposure training. Besides, there are several self-help strategies that can help you to cope with phone anxiety.