I Have To Make A Lot Of Phone Calls, Stress Chemicals Firing

[cupfish]

I feel like a two year-old afraid of a balloon or something else infantile.

My job requires more phone work than I expected, I am stressing. What stinks is that once I reach the person (which validates my purpose as a worthy human, again -- ridiculous) I am fine. Can feel the cortisol and adrenaline flowing like the Nile. It starts in my gut and spreads all around. It feels like I am full of POISON.

Okay I am being brave, closing this window and dialing, darn it!

 

[Silver.]

I was reading an article, somewhere, that said more and more people are shying away from using phones. I was talking about this with my (PTSD) friend, and she was saying that even ordering take out, her husband and she argue over who is going to make the call. I laughed because I do the same thing. It was nice to know that I wasn't the only one that got all shaky and weird making phone calls. I don't even like calling to schedule appointments.
Kudos to you for getting offline and doing it! I hope it will get easier the more you do it x

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I work in a call center as internet & PC tech support for a nationwide internet company and I get the feeling. Even though Ive been doing phone work straight out of the gate at 18 (as soon as I realized I was gifted with an amazing phone voice) and im now 35, I get nervous like that when I first start a new job and have to take calls for the first time. I think thats my fear of failing and messing up but still.

Breathe, people can hear tense, nervous, not confident (people will follow you to the end of the earth just by sounding very confident even if you have no idea what you are doing; but will eat you alive if they get a hint that you dont; its a skill but the first id master in phone work), frustrated or anything else. Dont second guess yourself, if you dont know...dont say "I dont know", say "I will find out for you" or "let me find out for you"...always "for you" which also makes them think you are doing it for them instead of to them even if thats a hold to say "oh my god, what the f*ck am I doing?" Just dont let them hear that lol.

Last but most important ALWAYS Smile when you talk, it changes the tone of your voice and it makes upset people not so upset. They can hear that smile. And believe in yourself and your training. When ever anything starts to slip I always go back to basics, doing everything like I just got hired and dont know what im doing. Its about the biggest thing in any phone job as you pick up bad habits and things sufferer and when that happens, going back to basics is important. I read our database like ive never read it before and go step by step.

You've got this, there are 'tricks of the trade' but its just being confindent in yourself and that flows over to the other person, smile which flows over to the person, empathy which flows over to the other person, and going back to basicis when needed which flows over to the other person. That's about as basic as I can make it.

Also, if someone is screaming, turn down your headset or move the phone a bit from your ear, the lower they are the easier to digest and DONT match them, do the exact opposite; speak soft, smiling, and friendly.

You've got this! :hug:

 

[Lotis]

I feel the same way allot of the time. I always get super nervous when I have to make a phone call; like heart pounding and up in my throat but once I start talking I am ok. I cannot pin point what the exact problem is or why I am so nervous. It used to be allot worse - socially I feel awkward...like people are better then me. Maybe that is my problem I lack self-confidence. I used to not leave my house and be afraid to go to simple places like take a walk around the block or go to a store. Thankfully I am no longer fearful in that way but I do sometimes get really anxious before I have to be in public especially for work where I have to be social all of the time.
L

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Lotis, I fear being physically around people; dont get me wrong, I still have that severe terror. In person, I barley say a word unless I know you. I can be quite the chatty person if I know you and quite goofy where most are laughing a lot. But if I dont know you, I dont look at you, NEVER in the eyes, and its like pulling teeth to get me to say much other than a few squeeks.

I also have an issue with talking. I cant voice things, and have trouble voicing things even with my therapist whom is the only person I fully trust. I cannot call a crisis line or anyone for that matter when suicidal; I wouldnt be able to speak one word.

I can type thus my activity here and I have chat & text crisis sites saved for that reason as well.

But, my job, completely different story and I have to keep myself in check for talking too much or carrying on too much small talk. But they arent physically here. I cant do that if I had to be physically on front of the public. Also, Im auto compartmentalized which helps to keep all of this stuff numbed and away from conscience and doing my job in the foreground. Im not staying to do that, just how I became & stayed as functional as I am.

If I had to voice the stuff I talk about here and in therapy, I wouldnt be able to and as it is, I never look at my therapist.

Its practice I think. It gets easier the more you do it.

 

[cupfish]

I work in a call center as internet & PC tech support for a nationwide internet company and I...

this is awesome awesome....particularly the tips on confidence, breathing, tone, etc. I GOT THIS

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I GOT THIS

You got this!!! :hug:

I forgot to say breate. I have a ton of notes to breate and imagine myself floating on my back on water (takes my anxiety & fristrations from 10 to 0 fast if i do it correctly but i also work in tech support).

 

[cupfish]

you aint lost and forgotten you are awesome

 

[Deleted member 12723]

It is a mixed bag for me, at times no problem and breeze right through them and other times I get hit on the head with the big dread of having to make a phone call.

 

[SpiritFree]

My new job requires alot of phone calls, however my past previous job was also dealing with phones. Now with my previous jobs, once I learn the office system I had full confidence in answering the phones in just 2 weeks. Now I'm on my 3rd week of my new job and it has been difficult for me for answering phones and to tolerate the elderly yelling at me. I am considering resigning hopefully next week. It is stressing me out, but also new symptoms have manifest itself on me. So well see.

 

[Deleted member 34424]

I'm scared to talk on the phone too. I also think it's a hassle. I much rather text!

 

[cupfish]

My new job requires alot of phone calls, however my past previous job was also dealing with phones....

Does it help to consider that the elderly yelling at you may come from a place within them of fear of being irrelevant and unheard? Older folks can get pretty frustrated and scared that they no longer control their lives. Maybe those crabby elders have more in common with us than we consider....marginalized, not part of the everyday rhythms of society, possibly lonely, uncertain and scared about outcomes....I just think suffering is really pervasive in our society, that we are not alone, that a HUGE pct of the population has some form of trauma or fear-related behaviors.

Sometimes personal healing comes from walking in others' shoes. At the same time protecting yourself from triggers is paramount. Keep us posted.