Telephone phobia
[6] A sufferer calling a household or office in which they know several people may be concerned at the prospect of failing to recognize the voice of the person who answers, with resultant embarrassment.
[6] Fear of using the phone in any context (for either making or receiving calls) may be associated with anxiety about poor sound quality, and concerns that one or other party will not understand what has been said, resulting either in misunderstandings, or in the need for repetition, further explanation, or other potentially awkward forms of negotiation.
[6][7] The fact that the conversation is of limited duration may also add to the sense of pressure: sufferers typically report fear that they might fail to respond appropriately,[1] or find themselves with nothing to say, leading to embarrassing silence or stuttering.
[1][6] Past experiences, such as receiving traumatic news, or enduring an unpleasant and angry call, may also play a part in creating fear.
These symptoms may include nervous stomach, sweaty palms,[2] rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, dry mouth and trembling.
[6] At the same time, members of a younger generation who have grown up with digital communication increasingly find both making or receiving phone calls "intrusive", preferring to use media that allow them to "participate in the conversation at the pace [they] choose".
A spokesperson for price comparison service Uswitch, who conducted the survey, commented "Gen Z and younger millennials increasingly prefer 'low pressure' voice notes, which signal there is less urgency to respond.
"[11] Sufferers may find it helpful to explain the nature of the phobia to friends, so that a failure to respond to messages is not misinterpreted as rudeness or an unwillingness to communicate.
