Phone anxiety - or telephobia - is the fear and avoidance of phone conversations.

It is more than just disliking a phone. You may feel extremely nervous or anxious before, during and after the call. You may obsess or worry about what you will say. Physical symptoms include...

Phone calls only focus on our voice. Other social cues are absent, making talking on the phone daunting.

• Anxious people may prefer texting, seeing it as a superior medium of expressive and intimate contact.
• Texting can give people a chance to think about the...

The best way to overcome phone anxiety is to make more phone calls.

• Start by making a list of the people you need to speak to on the phone, like friends or colleagues.
• Consider what makes you anxious, for example, making a mistake.
• When the call is ...