How to know who's calling you when you don't have the number in your phone.

There’s nothing quite like the unique fear that strikes the heart of a socially awkward human when an unknown number rings.

Who… is that?

Is it a colleague? And old friend? An ex? Maybe God? Have I not paid a fine? Have I done something wrong? Am I fired? Is someone coming to kill me?

Of course, none of the above ever happen. But hey, why let reason get in the way of a stress and catastrophe-free day when you can visualise your own death in the seconds following of a single, out-of-the-blue phone call?

Listen: Mia Freedman explains why she never, ever answers her phone. Post continues after audio.

The phone number in question invariably refuses to leave a message and so, you’re stuck with a couple of options.

Firstly, you can text every person you know with a ‘Hey! Do you have this number?’ or, you can admit defeat, swallow your pride and hit them back with this one: ‘New phone, who dis?’ (You know, or something of the same variety.)

Both could lead you down dead ends, full of lost sleep and sliding door thoughts about just who was on the other end and whether that phone call was going to change your life.

It probably wasn’t going to. But again, why reason when you can catastrophise.

I take you down this path, of course, because I have a solution for you. A solution that will END all of your ‘I don’t know who the hell just called me’ dilemmas.

Ready?

You. Just. Search. The. Number. On. Facebook. Right into your search bar.

Once you put the phone number in, the profile of the person who called you will pop up.

Yes, the mobile number that just called. And no, you don’t even to be Facebook friends with the person who may be calling you to reap the rewards of your stalking status.

MAGIC.

Gotta love it when Facebook comes to le rescue yet again. Of course, this technique isn't 100 per cent foolproof. If the person in question doesn't have Facebook - or if they called from a landline - their profile won't pop up. Some savvy suckers have also chosen to not disclose their mobile phone number to Facebook because of some weird thing called "privacy"... or something.

But in 9/10 occasions, it's a bloody life saver.

Go forth and rest soundly. Your problems are solved.