Phone calls and leaving voicemail *shudder*

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Do you wince at even the thought of making a phone call? Something about that disembodied voice just amplifies my Aspieness tenfold. When I think back on my job as tech support a few years ago, I can't help but immediately think of how much I dreaded having to call clients. So much so, that unless my boss said I had to actually talk over the phone, more than a few times I would remote into the client's computer and either type a question in notepad or use a script I'd made that automatically opened and typed a message to them. And if my boss specified that I had to call them, I would pray it went to voicemail.

Which brings me to the second half of the subject: voicemail. It seems that no matter how many times I try, I always sound so frickin Aspie in voicemails. Whether it is leaving a "quick" update, placing a request for a medicine refill, or setting up my own voicemail, I inevitably get tongue-tied, repeat myself, and throw in a countless number of awkward pauses between words, creating the most spasmodic ramblings I can imagine.

In fact, I go into every voicemail crossing my fingers in the hopes that their voicemail service has the option to press "1" in order to go to a menu or automatically delete and restart my message. I have spent the better part of an hour trying to leave one voicemail before. It was easily over thirty attempts.

How about you guys? Do you dread phone calls and voicemails as well?

I personally wouldn't say I 'dread' them, but I would definitely prefer to talk to the person directly then leave a message

I wish texting existed on all landline phones, too--that is SO much easier than leaving a voicemail.

I don't mind leaving voicemails or phone calls as long as they serve some kind of function, though I HATE being kept on the phone for longer than I deem necessary.

When the phone rings I do twitch, and resent having to listen to other people's recorded voicemails unless they have a good phone manner and don't waste my time waffling bollocks. These people with an understanding of how to use a telephone effectively without making me want to burst out of their handset and beat them to death are rare.

I attribute my hostile approach to telecommunications as some kind of PTSD from a job I once had that involved spending much of my time in the office speaking to simpering idiots on the phone, and in my spare time I was on call. Can't say I miss being there.

I dread it very, very much. Like, I'll have a panic attack thinking about making a phone call.