Phone calls. In a world of texts and emails, they feel like relics of a bygone era, especially for the phone-call-phobic. The ringing phone, the forced pleasantries, the fear of awkward silences – for me, phone calls were a special brand of anxiety. Scheduling appointments, calling customer service, even phoning friends – each ring felt like a miniature panic attack.
Then, I discovered a $2 app called “Fake Call.” Ridiculous, right? But brilliant. This app allows you to schedule fake incoming calls at specific times. My strategy? Pre-call practice. Before making a real call, I’d schedule a fake call, answer it, and rehearse what I wanted to say. It was like a low-stakes dress rehearsal for phone call terror.
The app wasn’t a magic cure, but it was a confidence booster. It desensitized me to the ringing phone, allowed me to practice my script in a no-pressure environment, and crucially, made the real calls feel less daunting. The $2 app turned phone call fear into manageable phone call prep. It’s not about loving phone calls, but conquering the fear. And sometimes, a little fake-it-till-you-make-it is all you need to dial down the anxiety. Best two bucks I ever spent on my sanity.