By Lija Feba

Even if we say that our days begin and end with scrolling up and down screens, some among us are too scared of calls. Yes, anyone can hide behind chats but to attend a call is too hard for a few and this condition is ‘telephobia’.

What is telephobia?

It is a Social anxiety disorder. People with telephobia can talk to strangers or can text a dozens of messages. But they faint at the thought of  making or taking a call.

Why does it happen?

For a few people, attending a phone call is considered to be a complex interaction. Unlike chats, it demands spontaneous replies. That doesn’t mean telephobic people manipulate things before they speak, but the fear can be because they are not good at talking.

Most of them fear of a possible unintelligent response from their part over phone calls. It was also learned that some stare at the calls to avoid offending someone.

Studies show that out of 180, hardly 10 picks up phone calls. Telephobia is not something related to telephones alone, but is an irrelevant scare to interact. 

It has been here before the technological advancements.  During the First World War, British writer Robert Graves in his autobiography has written his personal experience of developing a fear on using the telephone following an injury. George Dudley and Shannon Goodson had also penned a similar thread in their ‘The Psychology of Sales Call Reluctance in 1986’.

People with telephobia will have nausea, shaking, increased heart beat and shortness of breath. However this fear is nothing serious until one lose their relationship or career.  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques like cognitive restructuring and exposure training are the best remedies to overcome the phone fear. 

Tips to battle telephobia:

• Smile before you take a call.
• If you are to make a call, be prepared.
• Visualize yourself building a rapport with the person on the other side.
• After making a difficult call or having a tough conversation, relax yourself enjoying a song or playing a game.
• Make sure the person whom you call is also free so that you won’t get bothered.
• Don’t stress or overthink.

And keep this manthra in mind, talking makes things better. Chats maybe read or interpreted differently by the receiver. Whereas a call at the right time will help communication, clear ambiguities and strengthen relationships. So next time when you make or take a call, smile. Let’s talk with confidence.