 Basically, there's a group of assignments I have to do for my outpatient coding certificate and I have to get at least 85% on all of them to pass the class. One of them requires demonstrating telephone skills by acting out a dialogue exchange over zoom. I did not know this was a requirement when I signed up.

I have tried to participate three weeks in a row now and have been unable to do it. I've been staging mic difficulties each time.

There are times I just physically can't speak- I can't talk on the phone without this happening so I conduct everything via email and text, which has worked so far. I used to get yelled at for not talking to my parents. I was docked participation in school when I was a kid because sometimes I couldn't answer when I was called on. This is a problem that I've had as long as I can remember and I can't seem to fix it.

I am completely unable to do this. For some reason something shuts down in me, I try to talk and my voice just doesn't work. I get feverish, my heart races, I don't get it. It's likely just anxiety, which I definitely have, just never this bad. It just doesn't make sense. I can manage it sometimes, but this "competency" thing has been driving me insane these past few weeks because it's something I can't handle and I don't know what to do.

Thank you for reading, and I would appreciate any advice or opinions you have.