Anxiety When Communicating by Phone

I experience a high level of anxiety which affects my ability to communicate with loved ones and friends by phone. My fear is that I won't have anything interesting to ask or say. So rather than make the effort to communicate, I don't. My regular conversations are generally to my immediate family (mom, brother), otherwise, my phone will not ring, as no one in my family calls. This anxiety translates into how I interact with my family members in person because there is no real connection since we (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)don't speak on a regular basis by phone. Is my behavior indicative of a social anxiety disorder? How can I seek help with overcoming this problem which has plagued me all of my life (I'm almost 40).

Try Cognitive psychotherapy.

You could also try self-treatment. Arrange with a friend to let you call him or her, and then try to delve into the feelings you get. Repeat this several times until your anxiety is gone.