Tips for Overcoming Phone Anxiety with Strangers

hmmm I still struggle with it a lot with my autism and anxiety but I always write out exactly what I need to say and then a seperate list of what I want out of this phone call (eg a big one for me is writing out why I'm calling the doctors, symptoms and then what I want out of the convo such as an appointment or medication and so on) and although it's still really stressful when I don't know what to expect, it helps to plan out and write out what I think will happen in the phone call and then treat the rest of the conversation like improvising or pretending that the person on the other end is a robot or isn't real or something like that ^^;; it also helps me to do it in a comfortable space like at home, having fidget toys or sensory objects nearby or a pet nearby :) It was really really difficult when I started to make phone calls by myself when I was younger but it does get slightly easier over time with practice, even if it takes years just to learn how to make a phone call without having a panic attack, that's still progress!! I hope this helps at all! (and I'm also on Propranolol and I take it the day I plan to make any phone calls too for physical anxiety symptoms!)

I dont like it so I voulnteerd as a receptionist, I had to call mayb 50 people a day. After a while I thought il prob never speak to this exact person again, ir doesn't matter what they think...this is the aim of y I'm ringing, they dont no i dont feel congident. I can be anyone on phone to them,they cand see me if im colouring in at dame time. Also half the time I new they prob weren't fully listening. I still don't like it now but I make sure I call sombody at least once a week

I like to encourage my clients to practice the phone call or even write out what they want to say or need to ask and have it with them so they have something to focus on during a call

Well this might not be the best way to cope with it but I usually smoke alot of cigarettes before I make a call and after it, its the only thing that helps me cope well that and I take propranolol 3 times a day

Have that as your only task for the day and give yourself a treat later for doing it