Volunteer work

alwaysbeenshy · Newbie User Joined: Mar 25, 2007 Posts: 12

Does anyone on this forum volunteer? It works wonders for my OCD and social phobia, its so rewarding, makes me feel good, gets me out there being active and doing something productive and best of all takes my mind of my anxiety problems. I love animals and have volunteered in the past at different shelters and have done pet sitting as a casual job on the side to my normal work and when moving to sydney am looking at frequently volunteering at my nearest wildlife shelter and am thinking about also volunteering at a elderly nursing home to get used to communicating with people and also make an elderly person not feel so isolated or lonley.

Guys a recommend you take up volunteering in something you are interested in, it really does work wonders! A great site if you are in australia is www.govolunteer.com.au.

thanks, alwaysbeenshy Very Happy

SilentStranger · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:56 am Post subject:

I don't volunteer at the moment, but before getting the current job I did do volunteer work. I work for a charity that supports education in south east asia. I starting working there because at the time my job was not full time and I liked the work. It also came in handy when I lost my paying job, the volunteer job acted as good resume filler. I suppose you give a little, you get a little.

You might want to edit that link, there is a extra . on the end that stops my browser from going to that site.

Hmm maybe when things get a little less busy, I might start volunteering again.

-SS

unintentional · Newbie User Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks for that volunteer site alwaysbeenshy (oh and if you try clicking on it, it won't work unless you get rid of the full stop at the end)

I never knew such a site existed!

I think it feels good to volunteer, I know that the tutoring I do (I get paid a little though) really brightens up my week.

blinkybill · Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

I'd love to be able to do some volunteering. Unfortunately work is quite draining at the moment, which doesn't leave much energy for volunteer work after hours. Some days I feel I can accomplish anything, and other days I feel like I can accomplish nothing at all. When my mood is so up and down I find it difficult to commit myself to much.

Also, to help with the elderly or disabled I would feel quite a burden of responsibility. When I lack the communication skills to get by in everyday life, how could I provide the companionship that these people need? I would feel guilty if I was using volunteer work as social exposure, while not really being able to give to those I should be helping, and thus defeating the purpose of volunteering in the first place. I know this is all negative self-talk which I should try to challenge, but I've got to vent it somewhere Wink

I don't know... there are a lot of opportunites out there. Perhaps I could try some odd volunteer gardening work, which shouldn't be too socially demanding, and would give me a chance to help others rather than staring at the four walls and feeling sorry for myself.

alwaysbeenshy · Newbie User Joined: Mar 25, 2007 Posts: 12

hi blinky bill if you would like to work with the elderly def give it a go! i believe i have to something to give them, i actually find it easier to talk to the eldery and enjoy their company, they are real and have some amazing stories to share and most of the time they are quite happy for sometime to just sit with them and listen to them. Im not a shy person by nature but am incredibly shy and anxious in social situations esp with people i dont know that well but 1 on 1 never really seem to be so sitting in a sunny corner with an elderly person suits me just fine. Also if you have unusal pets or a dog, play an instrument, a mean card player it makes it easier to stike up conversation as you have something to talk about Wink

its a bonus by volunteering to work with the elderly that my communication skills will hopefully improve and for the social interaction which is why anyone talks to anyone, its fun or it should be hopefully one day for me Wink

alwaysbeenshy

LittleMissMuffet · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I'm signing-up to do some work with the homeless.
I wrote a bit about why I'm doing this in another thread.

I also think that it could do wonders for me. I think that just because it won't be about me is why it is a great idea. I've actually become quite sick of my own little world and my problems. Just focussing on others is like having a weight lifted.

It's great that you are enjoying yourself and are obviously quite enlivened.
I also remember (from primary school volunteering) that older people can be quite lovely to be around.

_________________
"Don't fear mistakes, there are none"
Miles Davis

"All of us are living in the gutter, but some are priveleged to see the stars"
Oscar Wilde

DingDangDoo · Newbie User Joined: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 3

I regularly volunteer to do computer work for churches and other non profit orginisations. I try to explain stuff to them and just feel like I balls it up all the time. This in turn creeps the people out and I have actually had some say that they think I am on drugs! That's a sure sign of appreciation Confused

Anyway to cut a long story short...
I am very confident when it comes to my abilities with computers. The sheer fact that I try to do the best for people who are needy and feel so overwhelmed by their judgments is what drives me to just pretty much say well "@#$% the world, I'll go it alone."
I really would like to be able to teach computers but even though I have the know how, my thoughts of being watched and stuff just gets in my way.
Things will eventually get better I hope
Rolling Eyes