Why is it so hard to answer the phone?
Why is it so freakin hard to pick up the phone when your depressed? At this moment I have good friends who I haven't called back yet and for no rational reason. Sometimes they leave messages and I can't bring myself to listen to them. Naturally, my friends think I'm a flake, which is true I guess. I've missed drs appointments when I'm depressed and I can't bring myself to cancel and then they keep calling and I almost feel like I don't want to answer because I think they are going to be mad at me or something. I'm a 33 year old man for God's sakes, what the fuck is wrong with me? Shit, I wish I had cancer, then my weird behavior would be better understood.
@faithfulTriangle3777 I don't wish cancer on you, but I can tell you that your behavior is a normal reaction to having depression. 
I have gone through the same thing. Having depression makes it difficult to do about anything. In my case, everything was a burden on me including eating and relieving my bowels. EVERYTHING made me sad. It felt like a deep hole of nothingness.
Just let them know that you aren't feeling well. If they are your friends they will understand. Even maybe just sending out a text. When I'm not in the mood to talk that's what I do "not feeling well right now, sorry, not trying to avoid you, will call back when I get a chance". Something short and nice to let people know that you still care, just don't feel like being around anyone at the moment.
Find what works for you. You will and can get out of depression.
Thanks for the advice, I think that is the best way to handle phone calls that you can't pick up. Now that my flakiness has wittled down my friends to less than 5 and due to the fact that I consider these friends to be my close friends, I think it's time to be open with them and explain to them why I am the way I am. If they get weirded out by it, fuck 'em.
@faithfulTriangle3777 the fact that they continue to call and try to get a hold of you is a good sign that whatever you are going through they will try to help you through. Some people will take it as a sign that you don't want to hang out, but they keep trying despite what it may seem. I think you have a good support group and they care about you. Good signs! 
I've always hated the phone... I improved through cognitive behavioral therapy. In fact. I was looking for a therapist and my wife was calling for me because I couldn't face doing it myself, and one therapist she called asked why I wasn't calling. She referred me to someone who works with social phobias.
I tend to avoid or slog through phone conversations with friends and customers but unfortunately for my wife I become super irritable when I talk to her over the phone, I feel guilty about this because I'm always irritable over the phone, in person I'm a little better.