Sufferers: Can you more easily talk on the phone rather than seeing someone in person?

[Deanna]

I have to talk on the phone, so I'm use to it. I have a friends that call, so I like that. Text is fine.. Face to face is last. I'm typing on the phone as we speak

 

[Chris-duck]

I am fussy as hell :laugh: I'm definitely more open if I'm typing vs talking, whether over phone or in person. I like talking in person, and I'll talk forevveerr on the phone if I call you, but if anyone calls me I never answer. So it's very mood specific.

 

[Changing4Best]

I sometimes feel like avoiding people, especially ones that make me nervous. I know who makes me nervous: anyone who brings out my speech impairment. It comes and goes simply by that mechanism. People that I am not nervous of, they never trigger it.

 

[Mach123]

I'm so much like that, even people I don't mind much like ducking around a corner or crossing the street to avoid them. It's a PTSD thing for me. Like lots of things everyone has or does it's just a power of 10 for me. i just feel like I have to escape lol. If I avoid letting you see me I won't feel trapped.

Avoiding speaking to the neighbors I take like a duty or something? It's ridiculous sometimes but that is how I am. Small talk. Anything but small talk.

 

[katz]

I actually prefer the phone. I have always hated how I look when I'm crying, (red eyes, tears streaming down my face, someone looking directly at me). So if the other person can't see me-I can cry or get up and walk around. I mentioned this to a T one day. She told me that it was perfectly okay. We even did a few sessions with the lights out.
She said that it makes it more difficult for her to read my expressions, but if it made me more comfortable then it was ok.

 

[shatter eyes]

I prefer email or text so i reread and process. Phone calls put strain on my TBI symptoms and i get very tired. The PTSd makes me try to figure out too much like whats that background noise? Am i on speaker?

However, phone calls do help me practice exposure to humans after hiding. If its important i try to ask if they can email me summary of call.

 

[NatBird]

It depends where I'm at with the PTSD and the nature of the connection

If I'm flooded then there's often a lot of fear,shame and not wanting to be seen.
If I feel safe to be vunerable with you then in person
If I want to hang, connect, the phone is Queen! except if its a challenging conversation, then I have to know you
well
Writing is my favorite but I save that one for people who I know will get it and don't mind me unravelling while their reading
All this to say it can depend

I imagine not knowing what is going on can be quite disorientating/confusing. If this is so, hope some clarity comes soon