Phone anxiety??

Yes, and I feel so much better knowing I am not a freak on the phone. I got really lucky and made me a little ENFP that LOVES to talk on the phone and cheerily answers it. I don't need to deal with that anymore.

I have to admit, it's pretty sad when your introveted boss says "you don't answer your calls, or your texts."

I'm not an INFJ, but a few times I've tested as one, and I identify with you all most out of my own type.

Anyway, even if I didn't stutter, I think I'd still have phone anxiety. I just don't like the awkward silences, and always having to come up with new topics. Then, I usually have a hard time finding the right words to string together. However, I'm fine with texting, haha.

For me, talking on the phone is akin to going to the DMV; I won't do it unless I absolutely have to. And even then I might find a way out of it. I need to be able to look someone in the eye when I talk to them.

It used to be a problem for me when I was younger... little things like ordering pizza I hated doing because I had to talk to someone I didn't know. I'm over it now. I have to use the phone so often to talk to coworkers and other people when I'm busy being a consumer that it no longer seems to be an issue for me. Make no mistake though, I'm still awkward as hell and sometimes word salad my speech.

^ I dig your signature. Is that a famous quote or did you come up with it?

George Bernard Shaw. :happy:

Haha, my friends can NEVER understand why I never answer the phone but am quick to shoot a text message their way as a substitute. For me, the phone is constant small talk, which I avoid at ALL costs. There is no connection, it is just conversation with no basis. I could sit and talk on the phone with my best friend for hours, but if it's a person I'm not 100% comfortable/familiar with, I prefer to side-step the awkward silences and the small talk that has no real value. I view the phone as a machine that embodies style over substance.

Yep I hate the phone, email is much preferred.

I hate talking on the phone, or Msn messaging, it requires too much instant response and me not being able to see their facial expressions really puts me on edge. My best mate whose ISTP hates Msn too so it's never been a problem with her, but imagine having to make excuses for an ENFP who loves Msn and is always asking why I don't go on it. My ENFP also rings me a lot and I find it hard to find something to say, but often she will talk a lot without much prompting haha.

not an INFJ, but I don't like the phone either. feels intrusive, always get anxiety dialing people. hate talking to machines. HATE HATE that so many companies use voice-recognition menus now which can't understand me and get all snippy about it worse, I can't multitask well with a phone to my ear, that's less of a problem with IM or texting. The one good thing I can say about it is that at least you can hear tone of voice-- something often lost in text

Moments of silence are deadly while on the phone, while they could have been fine in a normal conversation.

yeah I dont actually like talking by phone

I laughed when I read the topic title like INFJs even share that? :crazy:

Yes I don’t like to talk on the phone especially if I have to make the call and provide the subjects but if it is someone who is talkative it is much easier. I prefer emails and msn chats or something like that over the phone. In my two previous jobs I used to have call schools and arrange things with them, it was the most annoying thing ever but I got used to it to a degree.

Oh! Yes agreed. I'm not the biggest fan of phone stuff.. I bought a cell phone because I HAD to, but I intentionally ignore it 90% of the time. I can hold a very good conversation on the phone. I just don't like to, unless I have to.

me too! I much prefer emails or talking in person. I hate cold calling, calling for car repair, calling for appointments, anything! I will put it off a long time.

omg, yup abosolutely! I thought it was just me. Have kind of had to get on with it professionally, so am ok with work calls. Other business calls e.g. to order pizza, chase up an application, I get sooooooo scared, procrastinate and then have to write down line by line what I'm gonna say...or at least I used to, but less so nowdays. Personal calls, I really hate unless its close family who I'm used to talking to. I hate the silences, that you can't see people's faces and read their expression, scares the hell out of me (esp the smalltalk, talk to arrange something is fine, its the inbetween bits). I always treat the phone like a hot potato! Now text/email, esp text, I absolutely love...could spend all day quipping with someone over text!

I'M NOT ALONE
I pretty much agree with what the rest of you said. Anxiety, awkward silences, not being able to see the other person's face.... And I can never find a polite way to hang up. All killer. And it's only ok when I'm talking to someone I'm really close to (or an ENFP, because they always have something to say :laughing.

I'm curious to know what types this is characteristic of.... It looks like everyone who responded to this thread is an INxx. Maybe this is just an introvert thing?
Any thoughts?

Talking on the phone is like pumping gasoline for me...I HATE doing it, but once I'm doing it I'm fine. I think it's the not knowing who you might have to talk to on the other line. If I'm calling someone I know I don't even think twice about it.