Phone Calls

Hate things like that. When I first moved into where I am now I couldn't set up my electricity bill because the person before me had never changed it into their name. We went round in circles with it for literally years.

This might sound strange; if your mobility enables it: please do stand up to make the phone call instead of being sat down.  

The way you breath stood up will help you to feel more confident and that will be communicated in the clarity and strength of your voice.

I know it sounds odd, however, I have found it a helpful strategy.

Have a pen and paper available in case you get redirection contact details provided by the person who answers you call.

Have a checklist written down in a way which suits you - with what you want to say and the information you need. 

Rather than a full detailed written script (which you might feel derailed from - depending upon what the other person says) some people find it helpful instead to have:

- a piece of paper;

- on one side you draw cartoon clouds / speech bubbles / circles / a large grid

- in each one of your shapes you put a key word or phrase or question 

- during the call you can mark each one "yes" or "no" or "?" according to what you find out. 

You keep the other side of the page empty before the call - so you know that is where you can make notes about any new information which you had not expected.

Have a glass of water within reach - in case nervousness makes your throat croaky or dry / makes you cough when you are trying to talk.

I know, nothing goes smoothly. I tried to change my phone then found my account had been setup years ago with the wrong date of birth so even my passport would not work to identify me since I had lost or forgotten the other info.

Update. I managed to make the phone call. Unfortunately, the answer was if work want me to have them they should arrange them so now I've got to process that and then manage to speak to someone in work and then potentially have to ring the doctors back. Why are things never simple.

I would usually say something along the lines of;

“Hello, my name is John Smith, just wondering if you are able to book me in for some vaccine boosters if that’s something you do please?”

”Sure….we have Monday the 11th at 2pm available, can you do it then?”

”Yeah sure, no problem. I’ve not had these types of boosters before so is there any charges?”

(Receptionist then proceeds to inform you of any charges (if applicable)

“That’s great, thank you, Monday the 11th 2pm, I’ll be there, cheers”

Stuart333 said:

Another way to handle these is to just pickup the phone immediately, before you have time to build it up in your mind and just muddle through

That was the approach that worked best for me.

I would allow 30 seconds to write bullet points for what I needed from the call and then just make it - don't allow time for stress to build by anticipating it when the call itself can be stressful enough.

The bullet points help me keep the conversation on track and I have to check them off before finishing the call so it helps me focus on the details rather than the conversation issues.

Another way to handle these is to just pickup the phone immediately, before you have time to build it up in your mind and just muddle through.

The sooner you start the sooner it's over.

Most calls I can manage now but I still get the anxiety over it. But there's certain ones like this that completely throw me. I think it's because it's couple with uncertainty.

It does help. Thank you. But there is now a chance that I'm just going to burst out laughing during the call because I'll be imagining rescuing a cat from a tree.

Used to be impossible when I was in my teens and twenties. I could use it to talk to someone I knew, but otherwise I would avoid the phone or get someone else to call.

Then I spent over 20 years in cellular and had to talk to people for hours every day on a phone.

Familiarity makes it easier.

I still have the tightness in my chest if I need to call someone new, but I generally know what I am going to ask for.

Just start with hello, I'm calling to arrange some vaccine boosters. Then they'll ask you which ones, so you need to know that bit.

Then you just ask what's the procedure, and they'll explain, assuming they don't just run you through it anyway.

You just need to know how to start.

I used to stammer badly when young when I was nervous,then I would sweat loads. I actually forgot how stressful it was.

1. Take some deep breaths and calm down before making the call. Clear your mind except for what you need to ask for.
2. Write down what you need to say. Since you don’t know exactly how the call is going to go, write down the main things you need to communicate.
3. Make sure you are in a room with very few distractions.
4. If you feel your mind is going blank, say “One moment please.” The person on the other line doesn’t need to know why you need a moment. For all they know you might be rescuing a cat from a tree while on the phone.
5. Remember, the person on the other line wants you to succeed, too. They’re not out to get you and judging every mistake you make.

I hope that helps!