[possum220]

In the past week I have been asked to communicate with a number of professionals, even my P'doc online. I am a senior. I have never used skype or facetime. Even my OT wants to use Zoom ..... whatever that is. Just the thought of it makes me feel weird and self conscious and daunted. UGH
Has anybody else made the leap into this kind of communication? Is it easy? How do you rate this form of communication?

[DocJohn]

I agree with you.... I find videoconferencing awkward at best. The young generation today however feels more comfortable doing so, as do medical professionals, because they've been forced to adapt to the technology in order to keep practicing.

I find just not focusing on how I look helps, and instead just try and have a normal conversation with the other person. Sometimes it's easier than others, and I still feel pretty self-conscious every time I do it.

I prefer face-to-face, but yeah, in these times, videoconferencing through Zoom or Facetime is safer. I've done most different ones and they're all pretty easy to use.

[Open Eyes]

OMG, thank you for sharing that Doc John. I feel exactly the same way as you do about this. I actually had to do a video chat with my therapist and I explained to him how I don't mind seeing him but that I don't like seeing myself and find it way too distracting. Thankfully he understood and told me to use a napkin to put over the camera in my phone so I don't have to see myself and can focus on our conversation instead. I don't know if this is due to how the older generation never communicated like this and find it too distracting or what. You are right that younger generations don't mind it and have gotten used to it.

I appreciate you sharing how you feel so I don't feel like it's just me.

[seesaw]

There are settings on most of the apps to hide yourself, so you don't see yourself, just the other person.

I'm vain so I love looking at myself, lol.

I'm GenX; I remember a time before cell phones and social media, etc., but even when it was invented I loved video calls from the start. I was always so far from my family that when we got Skype it was great to finally see my parents, even by video.

However, while I am okay with a video call with providers, phone calls with providers are very uncomfortable and hard for me, for other reasons, so I do understand not being comfortable communicating with a provider in different ways. Since we're constrained by a world event I would say just try to take deep breaths. You could even explain when the call starts that it's uncomfortable for you so they are just aware of your discomfort and can help you through it.

[Open Eyes]

Some individuals are more photogenic than others too. A person can often be much more attractive in person then their photo portrays and some are not as attractive as their photo image portrays. That is why the film industry has screen tests. Often when you meet an actor in person it can be a bit of a shock as in person they are not like they appear on film.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

Some individuals are more photogenic than others too. A person can often be much more attractive in person then their photo portrays and some are not as attractive as their photo image portrays. That is why the film industry has screen tests. Often when you meet an actor in person it can be a bit of a shock as in person they are not like they appear on film.

Seriously, know your angles!

[Open Eyes]

LOL, after I posted that I went out to do some things on my farm and while I was out there YES, I was thinking about "the angles". Often individuals do have to be shot in very specific angles where they can come out best. Actually Barbara Streisand won't do a talk show unless she sits in a certain way so the camera will get her at her best angle and she prefers only one side of her face be exposed to the camera. There is a lot that takes place in what we end up seeing on film that we don't know about unless we are exposed to how things are actually filmed. It's really quite an art form.

[divine1966]

You can do face time audio. Same idea but no one sees other persons face. Just hear voice. Or hold your phone that person can’t really see you. Or use Skype and hold whatever device you use away from you so it shows something around you but not your face.

The only challenge I see with using this type of technology is having to be dressed lol can’t be in your pajamas or robe.

Good luck.

[~Christina]

I do not imagine my providers using video chat of any kind, I am sure it will just be phone calls and I'm fine with that..

[possum220]

Thank you for all of your replies. My OT is visiting tomorrow and is going to show me how to set up Zoom. I understand that younger generations dont have an issue with this. It is part of their normal world.

I do like the suggestion of putting something over my own face on the screen. I really dont want to be watching myself. I also like the sound of face time audio. I suppose that in the end I can still choose to keep it at phone call or maybe I just need a little bit of courage.

Originally Posted by possum220

In the past week I have been asked to communicate with a number of professionals, even my P'doc online. I am a senior. I have never used skype or facetime. Even my OT wants to use Zoom ..... whatever that is. Just the thought of it makes me feel weird and self conscious and daunted. UGH
Has anybody else made the leap into this kind of communication? Is it easy? How do you rate this form of communication?

I have been asked by friends to do this- I have a lot of friends who use these tools

but I won't. I don't like the idea at all

I also feel very self conscious seeing my face on those things and seeing myself interact. I like that idea of putting something like a napkin or card on my area of the comp so I can't see myself. I've not done zoom, or anything yet, but I will at some point, I'm sure!

[possum220]

Zoom is now set up on my ipad. My OT also showed me how to delete my picture from the screen. I had two appointments via zoom and they went well. Then I had another face to face call with my sister. I do like being in the same room as the person I am talking to but I also suspect that I will need to adjust with the times.