Fear of communicating on the phone affecting work

Hi,

I could really do with some advice on this.

I have severe social phobia (I have severe anxiety: PTSD-like symptoms) which I've only recently learned is almost definitely due in part to undiagnosed high functioning autism, but I do not currently have a diagnosis. SPeaking on the phone has always caused me extreme anxiety and distress because of my difficultlies with communication.

Despite being very unwell and isolated and trying very hard to get specialist inpatient treatment, I have a transcription job from home. Mostly I can do this completely anonymously and need next to no interaction with anyone other than via email. But obviously I can't completely avoid phone contact and work has expressed frustration at not being able to contact me via phone. I have done it a few times but it's genuinely extremely distressing for me and is not getting easier at this point in time.

To cut a long (boring) story short: I need to know how to explain this to them in a way that won't make them just go, "What an idiot", or think that I'm lying for some reason. I don't expect a big amount of personal treatment but I really struggle with this and a really scared of losing this job because of this stupid thing.

Thank you for reading

3 opportunities as I see it:

1) You write an email to your boss right away where you explain the situation. Take your time. Write it well. Just explain that you are happy working there (use some other words, it should sound professional), and you fully understand that it irritates your boss when you are not able to answer the phone. Then explain that even if you give yourself maximum at your job, there are some things you are just not able to do yet, due to some complications regarding social fobia, e.g. taking the phone. but you are working on it every day, and has set up a meating with a therapist to solve the problem, because you understand how important it is for your boss that you talk on the phone to finish the tasks faster.

Pros: You tell it as it is. If your boss is a good man, he will understand you, and even ask how he can help to solve this issue. He will be very glad that you told him that it was the reason, and that it was not an ignorance of any kind.

Cons: I say it as it is, if there have been some mistakes in the way you have done the jobs, he will think, well, thats an other good reason to fire her. But, IF you have done your job very well before, no risk of getting fired.

2) You just take the phone and talk. Sometimes in life, we are more capable than we think. It takes small steps in life to acomplish greater things. Why not start practicing today? Use relaxing music on youtube to help you

Pros: If I have not taken smalls steps in my life where I had anxiety, I would not have time to write this post and trying to help other people. Today, because I took this steps, I have what I need in my life, and even the time to help other people to acomplish what they want It all started with one small step, where I said to myself, life is about enjoying everything. Enjoyng taking this "scary" small steps, because you develop as a person Deep inside you want this development too

Cons: You cant live your life on a lie. Sometimes you just have to tell people the truth and then, you learn that its okay. People accept you as you are. And when you learn that, your can do anything you want in your life. Anything

3) Getting your therapist to write your boss a message.

Pros: The boss will know the truth, and will not be irritated of what he thought was your "i dont care with my job, therefore i dont take the calls"

Cons: Be a strong woman. Write that email yourself. It shows that you accept yourself as you are. Its a very strong sign.

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Take a walk. Take a bath. Relax. Then take the decision. In the end, it dont matter which one you take. Just take one. We are only stardust in the entire universe. What the universe want will happen, so stop worrying about "well if i take 1,2 or 3, it will be a mistake". There are no mistakes in life. Everything has its own order. You get fired? Is it bad? No. You will learn more about yourself than ever. It will be the point where you understand the entire meaning of life. Its ok to be who you are. You dont get fired and he accept it? What a beautful feeling. One more irrelevant thought in our mind. Do you know how many irrelevant thoughts a normal person think during the day? 90% Source: Eckhart Tolle. Where is your 90? Is getting fired part of the 90%? Stop worring and start living? Just be yourself and take that decision that is closest to your innner hart, to your inner beauty and be proud of yourself, because, it IS so beautiful that even with this diagnosis you help other people by transcribing things, just amazing - i love you

I had a traumatic phone call decades ago that changed my life and has given me a fear of answering a phone since. I jump when it rings and usually don't answer it unless it is a number I recognize.
So many nuisance phone calls these days anyways.
I don't carry a phone. My wife bought me a cell phone shortly after we got married, but I started getting nightmares about it and had to stop using it. They are distracting and anxiety-producing to me. After one event where I had 3 phone calls at once at work, I had to ditch it. She took it personally, of course.
I do much better at e-mails where I can prepare a slot of time to sit down and check my mailbox. I am prepared for any shocking or unwanted news.
I can think of an answer to reply with instead of having to come up with an instant answer as on the phone. I can include information that I wouldn't be able to provide in a spontaneous phone conversation.
This is a world where we expect everyone to be available anywhere and all the time. If it is that important, leave a message. How did we survive before this need for instant access.
I can see them as a convenience for those in a sales or administrative position. But for me in my daily activities, it is more of a hinderance.