Talking on the Phone!!

[lglovesjp]

I hate talking on the phone is it just me or does anyone else feel that this is the worst thing ever:mad: . It's just so difficult and after every phone call I usually cry it upsets me that much:( . I have even cried before using the phone because of how much I was dreading it. Like today I had speech therapy which I don't get that often and mym mum and dad were running late and I had my little sister so I ended up being late for it so when I phoned to tell her I stuttered so much and even though I knew that shes use to hearing it I still felt so annoyed with myself. I don't even get what it is with the phone because you don't see the person so you'd think you wouldn't be as nervous but I'm ten times worse anyone else feel this way?

[JDRow]

I don't even have a phone, if that makes you feel any better.

[Standingtall]

One time, i was really scared to use the phone, but over time i got use to it. First all, i have a job where i use the phone a lot, so now i don't even think about it when the phone rings. The little tricks i picked up for the phone. I move around as far as the cord can reach, because distraction helps me and sometimes i would put my hand over the speaker and remove it when word comes out. I make all the faces i want because i know they can't see me and i try and think that there is no one around and just speak. Funny, i would say, what did you say a few times becasue i would be so focused on believing i was the only one.
A few things i picked up.

[nick1991]

iv'e never really had much problems with the phone, although, when i have to call for a serious matter i get a bit tense and blurt out anything.

[bwelling]

Ig - yes I have had many of those phone calls and yes they are 10x worse. I wonder if there's a name for the syndrome that happens to a stutterer when they are totally out of control on the phone because of a stressful event.

[happy7117]

I don't think I realy dread the phone. I realy have no need to use it often. I guess the fact that others are so used to hearing me stutter, it sort of eases the situation!

I am not sure, but I think my stutter could be far worse than what it is now while using the phone. I usualy stick to email so I can get my message across.

I think the fact that the phone is part of life, and that we cannot continualy hide from it makes me not want to dread it.

The only time the phone has made me mad is when I get hang-ups, but I am sure that has happened with us all!

[meej]

i also have problems with phone, i quit my 2nd job because they gave me the task of answering the phone and to page someone , that time of pager, when celphone is not yet in.

[bignick]

One time, i was really scared to use the phone, but over time i got use to it. First all, i have a job where i use the phone a lot, so now i don't even think about it when the phone rings. The little tricks i picked up for the phone. I move around as far as the cord can reach, because distraction helps me and sometimes i would put my hand over the speaker and remove it when word comes out. I make all the faces i want because i know they can't see me and i try and think that there is no one around and just speak. Funny, i would say, what did you say a few times becasue i would be so focused on believing i was the only one.
A few things i picked up.

I dont tend to have problems on the phone, Like Gene, I use the phone all day in work and its natural for me to pick it up when it rings.

Having spoken to Gene, I got the impression he was one of the most laid back blokes I have spoken to and I really enjoyed chatting to him about families and general stuff. I also speak to powerofthree on a regular basis.

Nick

[Standingtall]

I dont tend to have problems on the phone, Like Gene, I use the phone all day in work and its natural for me to pick it up when it rings.

Having spoken to Gene, I got the impression he was one of the most laid back blokes I have spoken to and I really enjoyed chatting to him about families and general stuff. I also speak to powerofthree on a regular basis.

Nick
I don't know if i should be talking to you, you took power of three away from me. :D

Good to see you on here again big guy. Did you answer steve's question on .

Peace bro,
Gene

[bignick]

Gene,

I thought I would show my face again and add my comments again.

I did answer Steves question and had to laugh at your answer.

take it eaay.

Nick

[ZviD]

I don't know why the phone is awful for a lot of stutterers, myself included. Is there added pressure to speak? I think that's a part of it. But I wonder also is speech on the phone in controlled from a different part of the brain than non phone speech? It's dramatically different for me. Are there any concrete theories out there about why this is so?

[vdmm]

I think it's more difficult on the phone, because people expect an answer at that precise moment, and it's akward when you don't say anything...
what really helps is writing a difficult word down while saying it, it makes you concentrate on something else...

[nakapika]

Put down the points you are going to say on paper and then just read it out slowly and loudly when the time comes. What say guyz?

[juancho]

Hi there, I´m Juan from Colombia, I´ve read this forum for a couple of weeks but this is my first post. I really hate talking on the phone, when i have an important call to do (if I canpt avoid it), I prepare myself for about 30min, trying to relax an think what to say.

I really don´t know why talking on the phone is that hard for us stutterers, i mean, technically there is no one there so it should be like talking to ourselves. Like vdmm says, it might be because the other person is expecting the answer right away.
I believe its more because we can´t use any body or facial expressions, we rely 100% on our voice...

Anyways, a couple of months ago I was calling to a friend´s house for the first time, and his mother or sister answered the phone. I got blocked really realy bad tying to sak for my friend, when I finally finished the sentece I realized she had hanged up the phone. Obviously I didn´t dared to call again. Man that felt horrible. :(

Peace out,
Juan

[GetItOut]

I used to dread the phone as well. Doodling while talking really helps me out. Also, I tend to use a different tone/ voice when on the phone. lol Sounds ridiculous but also helps me out a great bit. I like to pretend like I'm a telemarketer or something. Other times, I just use a deep voice and try acting older and professional.

[Fredrick]

before you make the phone call try to get into the mood that you don't have to explain yourself to people, that the person at the other end of the phone is talking fast because they are criticizing you and expecting you to answer real fast and explain yourself.

F

[dolphindanny]

I sstart sweating like crazy when im on the phone...although ive talked to girls for like an hour on the phone b4

maybe they do all the talking lol

[matout]

hi...

i didn't read all the posts... but i consider phone as an invention from hell... although my work requires answering the phone a lot :(

[Fredrick]

maybe talking on the phone represents to your subconscious mind due to the electricity and telephone equipment an experience similar to when we all first started to talk and the person, probably our mother, was impatient and rushing us.

[Miko]

This was my biggest nightmare and during my 9 months part-time job at uni I did not answer even 1 phone call despite it being my duty when others went for lunch! Imagine my FEAR! lol

Later I worked at a front desk and had to do it, which saved my life, because after few weeks of embarrassment my speech on the phone became so fluent that I love it now! Honestly!

Just practise and do one phone call every day, you will see what happens. Dont worry, be confident. All the best.

Miro

[Fredrick]

This was my biggest nightmare and during my 9 months part-time job at uni I did not answer even 1 phone call despite it being my duty when others went for lunch! Imagine my FEAR! lol

Later I worked at a front desk and had to do it, which saved my life, because after few weeks of embarrassment my speech on the phone became so fluent that I love it now! Honestly!

Just practise and do one phone call every day, you will see what happens. Dont worry, be confident. All the best.

Miro

Dont worry, be confident. All the best.-gosh miko is always so positive!!!

[bolo]

DItto! I wish there was an answer.. or maybe there is somewhere but I haven't found a decent explanation yet as to why I too totally turn into someone else on the phone. I could be in a room with loads of people, non of them being remotely aware of my stutter but then if I had to make a phone call there's tension, heart rate goes through the roof whilst brain goes into situation avoidance overdrive finding my best escape route...

I've always sort of hoped I'd get better as I get older but in all honesty I don't it has, I look back now and remember as a kid there were times I'd always be on the phone.

But like Miko says, if you can be brave enough and find the opportunity to be put in the frontline like he did, perhaps that's the best therapy for us all...

[Miko]

DItto! I wish there was an answer.. or maybe there is somewhere but I haven't found a decent explanation yet as to why I too totally turn into someone else on the phone. I could be in a room with loads of people, non of them being remotely aware of my stutter but then if I had to make a phone call there's tension, heart rate goes through the roof whilst brain goes into situation avoidance overdrive finding my best escape route...

I've always sort of hoped I'd get better as I get older but in all honesty I don't it has, I look back now and remember as a kid there were times I'd always be on the phone.

But like Miko says, if you can be brave enough and find the opportunity to be put in the frontline like he did, perhaps that's the best therapy for us all...

But dont think it was easy. I got that job when I was 27 - that means 15 years of hiding in an office/school/everywhere and trying not be visible. And the other thing is I was hired for reception first (still dont understand how lol), but I was soooooo scared that I applied for Concierge, which was more free regarding sentences you had to say. At recepetion you had to say the same things all the time. The head of Concierge told me later (now my friend) that he wasnt sure if to hire me coz I stuttered soo much...