In a deeply personal revelation, actress and singer Dove Cameron has shared how a traumatic phone call about her father's death has left her with lasting psychological effects. The 30-year-old star, who rose to fame through Disney Channel roles, recently opened up about experiencing "major phone anxiety" stemming from the moment she learned her father died by suicide when she was just 15 years old.
Dove Cameron's Tragic Phone Call Experience
During the February 4 episode of Alex Cooper's popular 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, Cameron recounted the devastating moment that changed her relationship with telephones forever. She described receiving the news of her father Phil's suicide as one of the most out-of-control experiences of her life, triggering an immediate panic attack.
"I had a panic attack because it's the most out of control feeling you can have," Cameron revealed during the emotional interview. She further explained that this wasn't an isolated incident, noting that "actually all three of my big losses have come via phone call, which I guess is pretty standard... But I have major phone anxiety, I think, because of stuff like this."
The Day That Changed Everything
Cameron provided detailed recollections of the fateful day when her world turned upside down. She remembered receiving a message from a family friend asking if her mother was available. Since her mother was out at the time, the friend urged Cameron to have her mother contact a family member immediately.
"I just knew," the Disney alum confessed. "I can't tell you why I knew. But it was not a normal interaction. She had no reason to be talking to me." This intuition proved tragically accurate when Cameron's mother returned home and made the fateful call that confirmed her father "is no longer with us."
Physical and Emotional Aftermath
The actress described her immediate reaction to the devastating news with raw honesty. "I ran out of the room," she recalled. "I couldn't breathe" and noted that she went into "this, like, animal mode." Cameron's description of anxiety provides insight into the profound psychological impact of traumatic loss.
She elaborated on the physical sensations, saying, "You are fight, flight or freeze. You feel like you're going to vomit your soul… I don't know how else to describe it." These vivid descriptions highlight how trauma can manifest in both psychological and physiological responses that linger long after the initial event.
Understanding Phone Anxiety in Trauma Survivors
Cameron's experience sheds light on a common but often unspoken aspect of grief and trauma. For many who receive devastating news via telephone, the device itself can become a trigger for anxiety and panic. Mental health professionals recognize this phenomenon as a form of conditioned response, where neutral objects or situations become associated with traumatic memories.
The entertainment star's willingness to discuss such personal struggles contributes to broader conversations about mental health awareness, particularly regarding how unexpected tragedies can create lasting psychological challenges that affect daily life and communication habits.
