Phone calls

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Phone calls sometimes make me a bit nervous, especially when I have to call someone I don't know very well.

I have done that too! I mean I just did it without thinking at all, and then realized, uh oh I wonder whose call I just declined.

Sometimes when I hear other people's cell phones ringing I want to go stop it too (by throwing it against the wall or something). I have to remind myself I can't do that. lol

I have a Safelink cell phone...well they upgraded my service from extremely crappy to slightly less crappy, lol, and sent me a new phone. I had to call them from my home phone to activate it, which is also crappy. I have only one phone jack in the house so it is strung out on several extension wires along with the router and dsl modem. And seems like the cords and line conditioners have worn out or something because the static is horrible lately.

There is just a big wadded jumble of wires at this point that I have been meaning to sort out for years. But every time I try I just get aggravated. There was a time when I had the sense and the patience to install a car stereo, so I don't know what happened to me, but I can't handle this anymore. This jumble of wires has been dragged across the floor so many times it's a wonder any of it works anymore.

So anyway I tried to call Safelink and the static on my home phone was so bad I had to start swapping out phones and cords to get it to work. You know how those tiny plastic clips break off on phone cord plugs? They all do that on mine and there's this one especially that will fall out if the jumble of wires gets disturbed too much. And it has to be in there JUST RIGHT to work. So by the time I get this thing to work again I just feel like screaming already, ripping all the wires out throwing the phone down and stomping on it.

Ugh. By the time I finally got to make the phone call, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. Then I had to contend with endless menus, and they go by so fast I can't really process what all the options are. I finally just started hitting numbers trying to get through to a person. Then a person came on with a thick staccato-sounding Hispanic accent. She spoke way too fast and I could barely understand her. I had to figure out what she is saying, and then simultaneously fumble with the teeny tiny little buttons on this new Tracfone. It was horrible. It didn't seem all that bad but then why am I shaking like this?

I need a granny phone with big buttons, huge display, and a super loud speaker.

I dislike phone calls because:
1. It's hard to hear what the other person is saying. I have to have it on speaker phone and have the volume turned all the way up, and even then it's difficult.
2. The other person never stops talking! Like, I think it's over, but then they find something else to say. Then we have to say 'bye' ten times... and I don't know when to hang up; I usually cut them off mid-sentence because I think they're finally done but apparently they were gonna say bye again.

I like how with texting and emailing you don't have to be constantly focused, and you have some time to think out your response. Verbal communication is very confusing for me.

I wish phone calls weren't a thing! You have no choice; you have to pick up the phone when someone calls you or else they'll get mad.

I also can never work up the courage to call someone, especially a stranger. One time I was helping the Red Cross find people to donate blood, and they wanted me to call people using this list of phone numbers they had and give them all this information about the blood drive (like the time, place, and various other things) and it was just too frightening; I stopped helping with the blood drive and ran off! >.<

Sometimes I just don't, and if they ask I tell them I was in the tub or something. I call them back a little later when I'm ready. I hate lying, but I hate random interruptions too.

Yeah, but I'm never ready. It's not the interruption that upsets me. >.<

It was like that for me when I volunteered to help run a music club. They got me to phone musicians up to ask them to do performances, but it was horrible, I didn't know most of the musicians and they usually asked questions I didn't know the answers to. At least most of them wanted to perform. I could never do cold-call telemarketing, I hate getting those calls, like I guess most people do. I have trouble even asking people for directions in the street.

As for not being ready to take a call, well yes I forgot that. I'm never ready either. So it's both, in my case. My brain takes too long to move from one activity to another.

I've realized another problem I have with phones/ phone calls. Waiting back to hear from someone if you leave a message. For instance, I don't answer my cell if the area code is from out of my area. As such, I missed the call to schedule my evaluation and the doctor left a phone number to call her back at. I called the number to learn it was voice mail box. I've left two messages and yet to hear back from said doctor. Which is making me anxious and wondering why she hasn't called back when I was prompt about calling back. I'm kinda over phone calls tbh, let's just go to emails and texts please.

( an accurate gif of many of our feelings over phone calls I think)

I'm not too worried about making calls or answering them. My only fear is unexpected calls from my mom. She's a ball of anxious negative energy that I can't ignore, and if I missed her calls I'll pay for it later. Sometimes after answering a random call I'll tell DH "No worry, it's just people asking for donation."

I'm quite articulate and can instantly answer any question. And I took classes that specialized in giving bad news and rejections. I can handle difficult topics nicely, but my mom is still the bane of my existence. I think she's a bit terrified of talking to me, too but can't stop. We're both pleased that her phone company would cut off the connection after two hours. My best kept secret is the landline. I think it's worth the money just for my mom's calls. I can let her jabber while using my cell phone, text my friends and Google stuff and read news. Mom never noticed if I was paying attention or not. Instead she was in awe that I knew about everything.

A lot of people don't answer the phone much at all nowadays. It is likely that people would lose enough social skills that aspies won't stand out any more. I've encountered so many young people who seem to have trouble answering "How are you?"