Where does the fear of talking on the phone come from?

Where does the fear of talking on the phone come from?

Some people have a real fear of talking on the phone. Thus, today we wonder where this fear arises and what are the variables or circumstances that feed and intensify it.

We live in a globalized era in which remote communications are increasingly simple and frequent. Electronic devices allow us to be in permanent contact and facilitate our social and work life. However, for some people, this possibility becomes a nightmare: their fear of talking on the phone is so paralyzing that it leads them to lose opportunities. But why this fear?

There are many people who suffer from it and are forced to invent thousands of excuses for their refusal to use this device. Well, generally, they only find misunderstanding and blame on the part of others.

The fear of talking on the phone can come from a specific phobia (telephophobia). But, it is often a little known manifestation of social phobia.

Manifestations of social phobia

Social phobia is characterized by an excessive and irrational fear of social situations in which the individual can be evaluated. They are avoided at all costs or are supported at the expense of high discomfort.

Fortunately, this disorder is increasingly known and the difficulties of those who suffer from it are understood to relate to others. However, it also presents certain manifestations that are not so obvious.

It is not just about the fear of speaking before an audience or relating to strangers. The social phobic may suffer anxiety in many situations, such as eating in public, driving or talking on the phone. However, these are often not associated with the phobia and, therefore, their origin and the way of addressing them are not understood.

The fear of talking on the phone

In essence, there are three characteristics that make telephone calls an angiogenic element:

They are intrusive: calls generally enter unexpectedly and without warning. They require the person to abandon what they are doing and respond to the telephone complaint, despite not being prepared. This obligation to always be available and available can generate anxiety.

They require a quick response: contrary to what happens with text messages, calls do not offer time to think and elaborate on the response. Immediate decisions and actions are required. And, in a way, control over the answers is lost because all the energy is focused on responding as quickly as required.

They carry an evaluation: as in the face-to-face conversations, telephone companies expose the speaker to the evaluation of their interlocutor. With the added difficulty that, in this case, the nonverbal elements of communication are not available.

The telephone and social phobia

Thus, when talking on the phone the social phobic presents all the characteristic symptoms of the disorder:

Anticipatory anxiety: when the person knows that he will make or receive a call in the future, he begins to suffer anxiety from that moment. Physical discomforts and cognitive distortions unite, causing suffering to begin long before the feared situation takes place.

Avoidance and discomfort: when it is the phobic who should call, it is frequent to postpone this action as much as possible. And, when he is the receiver, he will use all kinds of excuses and apologies for not answering the telephone. If you are finally forced to keep the conversation going, you will experience it with intense discomfort and a great fear of evaluation. And try to cut the contact as soon as possible.

Subsequent rumination: after finishing the conversation it is common for the person to embark on a trial and self-criticism process. Recalling the call and recriminating his bad performance. In this way, a vicious circle of thought begins that only increases and prolongs the discomfort.

In short, the fear of talking on the phone is just one more manifestation of the same disorder. However, its consequences are important and can lead the person to lose valuable opportunities: from being unable to request a medical appointment to neglect emotional relationships or giving up job opportunities.

In a society where the telephone and communications have such presence and relevance, this fear can generate great interference in a person's life. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out a psychotherapy process that provides us with the tools to overcome fear.