I’ve dealt with social anxiety essentially forever. I’m really happy with my job as a newer associate in a mid-size firm, but I have never gotten comfortable with phone calls - for whatever reason, the phone is my nemesis! I can call clients and it’s fine, but when it involves opposing counsel or a self-rep I get really nervous and often trip over my words which is embarrassing. I have a phone court appearance due to Covid coming up so I’m especially nervous. Anyone else had to deal with this?

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Yes, all the time. I get tongue tied and then feel self conscious about how idiotic I am coming across. I find if I write down a short agenda and speak slower and more thoughtfully it’s easier.

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It's a skill. You get better at it over time and with practice.

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I’ve struggled with this a lot too. I’m now on anxiety meds that have helped a lot, and also meditation. But I also find that baby-steps exposure and preparing (writing out the first few lines so I start on the right foot and then having a solid outline of bullet points for everything else) has been helpful as well.

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Oh yes. Definitely will get better with practice though. I totally bungled my first negotiation and was blessed to have an understanding opposing counsel. I have methods to cope like a list of talking points as suggested above, and I always prep prep prep. After about 100 negotiations 😳 I’m now fairly comfortable and I don’t break out in a sweat or stumble over my words anymore. But it’s been quite an embarrassing journey.

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