When your phone rings, do you ever jump out of your seat because the sound scares you? When someone calls you while you are busy with something, do you get angry at that person for _(1)_ you? If you’ve had these experiences before, you probably have telephobia.
Nowadays, people are usually no more than a meter away from their phones at all times. _(2)_, a lot of people suffer fromtelephobia. This is a new social anxietythat is linked to the fear and avoidanceof phone conversations. With a traditional phone call, people must communicate with only their voices. It’s hard to know exactly what people mean _(3)_ social cues like body language, gestures, or eye contact.
The most effective way to get overtelephobia is to start making calls. The more phone calls a person makes, the less scary a new phone conversation will seem. People suffering fromtelephobia can consider _(4)_ their friends who will be sympathetic to their anxiety. Eventually, a person with telephobia might not feel anxious talking to strangers or making business contacts on a phone. If this method doesn’t work, it might be best to seek professional help. _(5)_ telephobia doesn’t happen overnight, but talking on the phone is the best way to overcome it. As they say, practice makes perfect.
