Hello, I'm Telephobic. How May I Help You?

HELLO, I’M TELEPHOBIC. HOW MAY I HELP YOU? (Week 12)

I have a confession to make, and for some reason, I believe that you will not believe me. Despite my love for social media and pretty phones, I’m telephobic.
Yup, I really am. Telephobia is the fear of phone calls, to simply put it. I don’t know how I got it, and at first, I thought it was normal for a person like me to not like talking over the phone. However, as I think about it clearly, as much as I hate talking over the phone with people I don’t know, I also tend to be so shy and anxious talking to people personally, may or may not be close to me. I researched about it, and it turns out that it may be associated with social phobia, something that I admit may be in me. I mean, this is not to brag that I may have these phobias without even seeking help from the professionals who know more about it, but I know that as much as I avoid doing these things, going places and interact, or answering phone calls, all is going to be well with me, and I won’t end up having this heavy feeling in my chest, like when I drink too much coffee.

However, like they said, you cannot avoid the things you want to avoid forever.

Last Thursday, I received an e-mail from my supervisor, with an attachment of the phone numbers of companies. She stated that I should contact them via phone call and ask if they will be interested in a special bidding that will be held in the company. The moment I saw the phrase “contact them via phone call”, I knew I felt very, very, very, very, very scared. To be honest, only a few of my friends call me, and when they do, we only ask where we were or when we’ll meet, things like that. The last long conversation I had with someone lasted for over an hour and it was something that I might not want to go back again. LOL. Anyways, the thing is, I just really fear talking to people I don’t even know, I was conscious, nervous, and just plainly scared. If all these negativity in me does even made any sense.

During the morning, I decided to just compile all the phone numbers in one single excel sheet, including their e-mail addresses, hoping that when they day passed by, she would not remind me of doing it. But, being the anxious one, I don’t like it when I have my tasks undone for the day. After lunch, I finished all my previous tasks and decided that I really couldn’t avoid these types of situations. Besides, I should not be afraid, because my supervisor is there to help me. I was very thankful that I have my friend beside me while I was calling the companies, she was there to cheer me up every time I hang up and grasp on my hair to take away my nervousness.

This week has taught me that avoiding things that are out of your comfort zone will only make things worse. May it be phobia or not, when I still have the little guts to fight it, I must. Because this will be for the better of me, and the better of my work. Even if I grew afraid at most, I was glad this task was given to me. This was a little step to getting my telephobia away from my head.