People with anxiety, what is a good place for me to volunteer?

[Kobethegoat24]

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So I have anxiety and volunteering has been though. I volunteer at a homeless shelter right now but it doens't give me many hours and i dont feel as if i am helping people. But when I have to volunteer in a public crowded setting my anxiety acts up badly. Just wondering any premeds with anxiety, what volunteering you found that suited you well?

 

[PastorDoc]

So I have anxiety and volunteering has been though. I volunteer at a homeless shelter right now but it doens't give me many hours and i dont feel as if i am helping people. But when I have to volunteer in a public crowded setting my anxiety acts up badly. Just wondering any premeds with anxiety, what volunteering you found that suited you well?

Perhaps a setting like a convalescent home or assisted living center would suit you. I did a chunk of my volunteering that way and it was an eye opening experience. It’s definitely not the most glamorous thing but that’s not what volunteering is about. The vibe is definitely more quiet and personal and allows for you to exercise empathy and genuine care.

 

[LizzyM]

So I have anxiety and volunteering has been though. I volunteer at a homeless shelter right now but it doens't give me many hours and i dont feel as if i am helping people. But when I have to volunteer in a public crowded setting my anxiety acts up badly. Just wondering any premeds with anxiety, what volunteering you found that suited you well?

You could look into providing assistance as an ESL tutoring to a small group of immigrants or one-on-one companionship to a youngster or a person with a disability or an older adult (Big-Brother/Big-Sister, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Senior Companion Volunteers, etc). Being a tutoring buddy to a kid from a poor family (some communities have tutoring programs where tutors and kids meet weekly for sessions) is another option.

One thing I would do if I had the time would be to create a "clothing closet" for people in need of clothing for job interviews, or for special events (prom, etc) and have people come in one or a few at a time by referral from social service agencies to choose the items they need. Maybe a social service agency in your community has the space to store and display clothing and set up a dressing room and then you and others engage the community in donating and organizing the clothing by size, etc. and help the "clients" choose things they need by appointment.

 

[thegreengreatdragon]

Volunteering in a library is an option that I've always really enjoyed. I understand that it might not be clinical volunteering, but I've had a lot of fun with library volunteering personally. Plus, libraries could always use the help.

 

[Goro]

So I have anxiety and volunteering has been though. I volunteer at a homeless shelter right now but it doens't give me many hours and i dont feel as if i am helping people. But when I have to volunteer in a public crowded setting my anxiety acts up badly. Just wondering any premeds with anxiety, what volunteering you found that suited you well?

Ask at your local houses of worship

 

[densesulfur]

A lot of times colleges have programs where they let upperclassmen mentor a couple of underclassmen which is definitely a smaller setting that I appreciate as well. I think it could count for either volunteering or leadership experience, but I find that mentoring is really rewarding and at the same time, not so frazzling as volunteering with a big organization!

 

[Oso]

Just want to say that you should make sure your anxiety is well managed. If it is, then of course you should do the type of volunteering you prefer and feel most comfortable with. But if it's not, then seek help because there will be plenty of instances in medical school and beyond that will push you outside of your comfort zone, and you will want to make sure that any anxiety is optimally managed. Best of luck.

 

[Kobethegoat24]

Just want to say that you should make sure your anxiety is well managed. If it is, then of course you should do the type of volunteering you prefer and feel most comfortable with. But if it's not, then seek help because there will be plenty of instances in medical school and beyond that will push you outside of your comfort zone, and you will want to make sure that any anxiety is optimally managed. Best of luck.

Thanks for your reply, I plan on taking 3 gap years to tackle my anxiety, just dont have money for psychiatrist right now.

 

[TheBiologist]

on a separate note, have you sought mental health help or talked to you doctor about meds that can help you? anxiety is treatable

 

[Oso]

Thanks for your reply, I plan on taking 3 gap years to tackle my anxiety, just dont have money for psychiatrist right now.

Do you have any insurance at all? A PCP can prescribe basic psych meds as well. Also, your school should have some type of free counseling center where you could talk to a therapist. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk a little more. I would hate to see you go for so long without any type of management if something could be done sooner.