I feel like anxiety is ruining my life

[Help987]

I can't do anything without feeling anxious. I need some jobs doing round the house, I've got as far as getting a handyman recommendation but I can't call him because I think he'll think im stupid or ill say the wrong thing. Im forcing myself to go out tomorrow night when I just want to stay in. I've tried loads of different antidepressants and I've had years of counselling and psychological treatments of different kinds. It's just miserable.

Oh I’m sorry you’re struggling x

I'm sorry you are struggling.

You know that they won't think you are stupid and even if they do it doesn't matter?

Write down what you want to say in advance to help you not get flustered.

Do you have a trusted friend who could support you whilst making the calls?

Feeling anxious is OK. However the more you can fight it the stronger you will get. The more you give in to the anxiety, the stronger the anxiety can get.

But you probably know all this already.

Hi Fred.
I've been recommended you as someone who may be able to assist me.
I need someone to XXXXX, is that something you could do?
....
What price would that be, or do you need to come round before you can quote?
....
When might you be able to do the job?
....
How do you take payment?
....
That's super, I'd like to go ahead. Can we fix a date now?

I know this is a cliche (sorry) but how was your childhood? Being over anxious for no obvious reason is often something that's learnt rather than appearing from nowhere.

Maybe this Ted X, explaining that anxiety is an emotion rather than a disorder, might help:

I know why im anxious but i cant seem to do anything about it.

Think through your worst case scenario here. So what if a tradesman thinks you're stupid? One individual out of how many bazillion?

I hate calling people too. My DH gets really cross with me about it (helpful). Is there any way you can text or send a WhatsApp instead? It’s quite hard to get hold of people on the phone these days anyway so texting can be better. Or a work email?

Anyway, I understand. Sometimes I have to wait until I’m in a rare energetic mood and just pick the phone up. I did it today after dithering about calling a gardener for weeks. Obviously voicemail and he won’t call me back 😂. But I did it and felt better afterwards.