cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Main content skiplink
Join an event. Happening today.

I hate video calling :(

Hey everyone!

 

I'm in my final semester of uni and am taking this unit that involves group work and zoom calls, essentially working on a Practera project together (if anyone's heard of Practera).

 

Groups and all that haven't been sorted yet as the project we're all supposed to work on together hasn't commenced yet (and I also have no idea what it's going to be). I don't know what it is, but I just can't stand video calls. I'm so much better at collaborating in person, and video calls make me extremely anxious. I think I hate phone calls in general, but video calls are just the worst to me.

 

Does anyone have any advice as to how to survive a video call (or even a phone call to be honest)? As this is going to be a regular thing throughout the semester and probably my whole life from this point onward after COVID-19 and the rise of zoom. Any tips would be much appreciated, thank you community 😊

Green_Ghost
Green_GhostPosted 31-07-2024 08:02 PM

Comments

 
miso_soup
miso_soupPosted 01-08-2024 01:22 PM

@Green_Ghost congrats on making it to your final semester!! Video and phone calls make me very anxious too I totally get the struggles.

 

Some of the things that have helped me a little bit is logging in a few minutes early and adjusting my camera to make sure I look ok and there's no distraction in my background. It makes me feel so much more confident and prepared.

 

If you're more comfortable typing as well, I sometimes stay on mute and just share my thoughts in the chat. It's a lot less anxiety-inducing to me than having to come off mute and talk.

 

It's ok to take a quick break, turn off your camera and step away from the screen for a moment if you need it as well!! I'm sure people will understand. 

 

Good luck with your project!! 

 
Catlover101
Catlover101Posted 01-08-2024 11:52 AM

Hi @Green_Ghost

I totally get what you mean. As someone who did year 12 and a lot of 1st year uni in COVID the video calls for classes are devistatingly awkward and anxiety inducing. Would it be ok if you turned off your camera during these calls? I know sometimes it can be easier to talk without being watched. 

What is it exactly about these calls that makes you anxious? Is it speaking or the lack of from others or something else entirely.

I know for me personally I couldn't handle the silence when someone asks a question and no one answers or when the call starts and no one wants to talk first. I genuinely found it easier to just start yapping myself because I find that once one person is confident and tries to chat it usually brings up the chatter from others. But it is scary and difficult sometimes. 

Try an identify what is causing the stress from these calls and see if you can brainstorm some ways to reduce that. 

Also I definitely recommend some mindfullness preperation before and after. Self care is so important and makes a big difference!

I am sending great video vibes and keep on slaying at uni you are SO close!!

 
Matcha_Toad
Matcha_ToadPosted 01-08-2024 10:31 AM

Hi @Green_Ghost

Firstly, I want to say that it is so awesome that you are in your final semester of Uni; I'm so proud of you!

I haven't heard of Practera before till now, but it sounds quite daunting not knowing who is in what group, what the project is about, and the fact that you have to collaborate via video call.

Everyone is different; some of us prefer face-to-face collaboration, some prefer video/phone calls, and this can be for numerous reasons, so it's absolutely okay to feel anxiety about doing video calls! I don't enjoy phone/video calls myself, both used to give me such bad anxiety.

Just like @LilacLeopard14 I've been doing Zoom/online meetings/calls since I was in year 12 due to covid, but I always have had such bad anxiety with them, same with phone calls. I do think having the camera off in the first session, at least if you're allowed, would help a little. Something I do is actually have my own video as the whole screen so I can just look at myself, I rather look at myself than everyone else in the call lol. I also sometimes have other documents/pages up on my computer so I can just focus at looking at those rather than everyone else in the class. 

I do suggest though to either reach out to a counsellor if you haven't done so already or even talk to a GP about this, they could help you through this. For me, a combination of therapy and medication has really helped me overcome the anxiety I experienced with phone and video calls, I still feel a little bit of anxiety towards them, but not as extreme as it used to be, but remember, everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for another.

Also after a video/phone call, I find it helpful to plan something enjoyable to do afterwards, like a reward of sorts, I find that helps me make it through.

- Matcha_Toad 🐸🍵💚

 
LilacLeopard14
LilacLeopard14Posted 31-07-2024 09:18 PM

Hey @Green_Ghost 🩷

 

First of all - congrats on reaching your final semester!! 🥳 that must be pretty exciting. 

I am sorry to hear that video calls make you anxious. As someone who has been doing zoom calls since year 12 (thanks covid 😅) I definitely see how they can be unenjoyable. The fact that you are staring at everyone's faces while they are looking directly at yours can be super daunting, so you are extremely valid in hating these calls. 


Sometimes I find having my camera off at least for the first session makes it a little less intimidating - but I understand that's not always an option/the right thing to do. My only advice to you, although cliche, is just to remember that the other people in your group are probably feeling the exact same way! I still get nervous to join a zoom with my supervisors even though they are super nice and nothing has ever gone wrong. Unfortunately it seems like the feeling never really goes away, it just gets a little less nerve wracking each time.

 

Do know if you be able to meet with your group in person at all? Also, if groups haven’t been sorted yet is there anyone you know or are close with who you could ask to be in a group with to feel more comfortable?


sending love and good luck for the rest of semester! you’ve got this 😇

Welcome back!

Join the Community

ReachOut is confidential & anonymous.

8+ characters, 1 capital letter, 1 lower case letter and 1 number

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.