I am suffering from anxiety today. Why? Because I need to make a phone call that for some reason I keep putting off.Seriously, I would rather clean the baseboards and wash down the walls. I would rather scrub toilets after my 3 year old has sprayed all over the place. I would even rather iron my husband's work clothes!
I have been putting this phone call on my "To Do" list for the last week. Each day, at the end of the day, this phone call has yet to be crossed off the list. The reality is, I haven't just been putting off this phone call for the last week, I have been putting it off since June.
By now you are probably wondering who this phone call is to. You are probably thinking it is some long lost relative... or maybe it is to someone I have some bad news to tell. Either way, you know it has to be important if I have been procrastinating this much.
Well, the call is important, but there really isn't any "good" reasons I have been putting it off.Yet, the anxiety levels are skyrocketing as I realize I need to just do it. I need to pick up the phone and dial the number and set up my appointment with VA.
VA - in case you didn't know - is Veteran's Affairs. That's right! I am a disabled Veteran. The reason I need to make this call is because I need to get my information in the system in the closest facility. Why? Because I am supposed to have a yearly physical to keep my benefits, but the other reason is because I need to go back an open up my claim. And frankly, I have been slacking on this paperwork since we moved from Wisconsin.
Yikes - this is why I am having anxiety attacks about this whole phone call. I realize it is healthy to get stuff out, but frankly a part of me would rather have the issues buried. Yet, I can't get treated for it, if VA doesn't recognize the issue either.
So excuse me while I have a complete and full breakdown... maybe soon I will be a diagnosed mad woman after all!
I'll hold your hand if you hold mine! I have to call the Social Security Administration and start the ball rolling for Collin. I've had his official diagnosis for over a year. The thought of drowning in a sea of their paperwork brings nightmares of being sucked into a quagmire of government forms.
ReplyDeleteSuck it up, soldier and make that call! :)
I just got off the phone with them... I got the wonderful appointment January 10th. And now I can't stop shaking because the idea of going to them and knowing what is going to be brought up does not make for a good start of a new year. But here's my hand... take it and make that phone call too... We can both do this! :)
DeleteMake the call, you'll be glad you did
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate making phone calls, for any reason, so I can understand your anxiety. I have to call the county tomorrow about why I haven't received my child support check yet, and I don't want to at all. I'll hold your hand if you hold mine!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you were a disabled veteran...I can understand your anxiety and hope you make that call soon...the sooner you do it, the better you'll feel. Sending you courage and strength!
ReplyDeleteAww...hopefully all the VA stuff will be a snap, but now that you've let it off your chest, maybe it'll be easier. I salute you, though. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sorry. I hate anxiety. It's awful and I've suffered with it for years. I carry Ativan with me at all times (just ask Kelly) LOL! I hope you feel better soon. :(
ReplyDeleteSpending a lot of time on the phone (in various contexts) I will offer this:
ReplyDeletea) make notes on what you want to say, who you think you have to talk to written notes that you can keep to the side
b) take a breathe once you reach the first person, the tendency is to rush into all the details, but they tell you that the person you should talk to is on the other line! lol that why writing out what you need to do helps. try the 'hello I need to accomplish this (define it) who can you recommend is best to talk to' is a good way to start.
c) the written out notes? on a pad that you have next to the phone, to take notes
d) while there can be real jerks answering the phones in large organizations like this, you might be surprised...
hey! there's an idea: approach this call like it was a Post you wanted to write! basic outline.. contact the people you need, referring back to your notes to stay on track!
good luck
didn't mean to run on lol
Oh, I'm sorry you have to make that call! I put things off like that too, until it is absolutely unavoidable. Of course, putting it off just makes me suffer more, because it hangs over me, threatening me daily until I make the call. I did this recently - I didn't want to call my Lyme doc because I didn't want to admit that I was having a relapse. I wanted it to be in my past. I hope you can make yourself make the call soon, at least so it doesn't continue to cause you anxiety!
ReplyDeleteI swear I had your post open today during my phone call to my hosting company while they were trying to fix my blog problems today and could have sworn I commented. Sorry, things were truly crazy here earlier, but I wanted to write and say that you need to make that call (as if you don't know that, lol!), but felt I needed to add my two cents anyways :)
ReplyDeleteYou must know how much anxiety I have by now...trust me, bite the bullet and make that call first thing in the morning. Someone once told me that "swallowing a frog" (figure of speech) first thing in the morning gets all the crap out of the way so you can go about your day and not have a stomach full of knots. It's hard, but it works. Otherwise you spend the whole day anxious and full of nerves or funny thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!! Think you deserve a glass of wine after making that call :)
Government agencies are really fun to deal with. All you have to remember is that anything that will normally make sense to a common person will not have any affect on a government employee. Common sense makes no sense to them, so, just be crazy and deranged and it shouldn't take you any time at all! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteDamn proud of ya, Stacy!
ReplyDeleteOh I feel you on this one, whether or not any of us can relate to the exact call you had to make. I think we all have something we avoid, dread, or put off, and it is such a scary feeling to confront it. Sending you good vibes!
ReplyDeleteMake the call! We're cheering for you! :)
ReplyDelete