Phone anxiety is a common fear among those with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Many people may not like talking on the phone, or may even have a "phone fear." But when your hesitance to make and receive calls causes you to experience symptoms such as severe anxiety, shortness of breath, or a racing heart, you may actually have phone phobia. Show
OverviewThose who do not have SAD may be afraid to use the phone. They may be more comfortable in direct social interactions, perhaps due to the fact that face-to-face settings allow them to be able to read non-verbal cues, like facial expressions. However, those with SAD obviously suffer from the opposite. If you are dealing with this condition, a phone fear may reflect issues you are dealing with regarding interaction with others in general. SymptomsIf you feel extreme anxiety before or after interacting over the phone, you may indeed have a phobia. Some emotional symptoms of phone anxiety may include:
Physical symptoms of phone anxiety may include:
The fear of making and receiving phone calls can be disruptive to both your personal and professional lives. It is important to take phone anxiety seriously. Although answering the phone and making calls may seem like a simple task that everyone should be able to do, if you suffer from phone phobia, the anxiety can be terrifying and real. TreatmentTreatment for phone phobia can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, such as cognitive restructuring and exposure training. In addition, there are many self-help strategies that you can use to cope with anxiety about using the phone. Cognitive restructuring involves challenging beliefs and replacing negative thoughts with more constructive alternatives. For example, if you constantly worry that you will bother the other person when making a phone call, cognitive restructuring might have you consider the evidence that this is actually true. Why would the person answer the phone if he was too busy? Why would he have asked you to call if he didn't want to talk to you? Eventually, you would reach the conclusion that it is unlikely you are bothering the other person or that he doesn't want to speak with you. Exposure training involves the gradual practice of progressively more difficult behaviors . In the case of phone anxiety, a hierarchy of fears might look something like the one below (listed from easiest to most difficult). Each behavior is practiced until you are comfortable and can move on to the next most difficult one. Sample Hierarchy for Telephone FearBelow is an example hierarchy for someone who gets nervous interacting over the phone:
Your hierarchy might be different depending on whether you find friends or strangers more difficult to talk to, and whether it is more difficult for you to talk on the phone in front of someone else. It may be difficult to create a hierarchy to deal with the fear of answering calls. If you typically avoid answering the phone, one strategy would be to use a caller ID unit to identify who is calling. You could then start by answering calls from people that you are most comfortable with and letting other calls go to voicemail. Eventually, you would progress to answering more difficult calls. Coping StrategiesIdeally, you should practice cognitive-behavioral techniques under the supervision of a trained therapist. If meeting with a CBT counselor isn't possible, or if you have already participated in CBT and are looking for additional ways to cope, the following strategies may come in handy.
A Word From VerywellPhone anxiety is difficult but can be overcome. However, if you find that your fear of making and receiving phone calls extends into other areas of your life and that you have fears of social interaction in general, it might be helpful to consult a mental health professional. If you are diagnosed with SAD, treatments such as medication or therapy may be offered to you. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Additional Reading  By Arlin
Cuncic Thanks for your feedback! When handling an incoming telephone call regarding a patient progress report you should?Chapter 13. What is the best response to a patient who calls to ask if he or she can use a medication that was prescribed?What is the best response to a patient who calls to ask if he or she can use a medication that was prescribed for a previous condition? "You may use the medication if it has not expired."
What should the medical assistant do if a patient calls on the telephone complaining of chest pain?Patient complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, or decreasing level of consciousness were determined to be emergent, and the MOA/MA was instructed to tell the patient to dial 911 immediately. The MOA/MA would then immediately contact the clinician at the appropriate clinic.
When answering a phone call in the medical office the medical assistant should?Answering the telephone in a professional manner involves answering within two to three rings, so the caller is not left waiting. If taking multiple calls, proper etiquette suggests that you give the first caller priority unless the second caller has an emergency.
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How should you respond when you receive a telephone call from a patient who seems anxious about the results of a test?
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