Good volunteer oppurtunities for someone with social anxiety?

[spanglock]

I don't want to do these but instead, have to. As the title states, I have social anxiety disorder and, thus, find it difficult to apply because of fear and stress. Can anyone think of some places that require minimal social interaction?

I know I need to work on my skills and I see this as a chance to, but being plunged into a massive gathering (as I once did) only makes me ridiculously anxious and exhausted. I'd like to ease gently into this.

Any advice or thoughts? I'm open to anything.

[😼Studio Cat😼]

Volunteer with an animal shelter in your area. You connect with a lot of animals, and very few people, but you meet a lot of people looking for animals. You know their social goals, you get comfort from the animals, you do a good days work, help everyone, and can honestly feel happy at the end of the day.

[Woody]

There is probably a position in charities dealing with shipping or soemthing like which woulnd't require much social intertaction, send an email of phone them up and tell them about your problem and I'm sure they can give you some ideas if not a position.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Food banks. You don't have to deal with people, just sort the food into bags/bins.

[😼Studio Cat😼]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Food banks. You don't have to deal with people, just sort the food into bags/bins.

Do the ones in your area work differently than mine? Because they are usually a close nit group and all of them have to pull all duties. Including handing food to some people so ashamed to need the help it can physically hurt to look at them.

Stick with the animal shelter. Go no kill. Otherwise.. Yeah.. go no kill.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by 🅱️oris the 🅱️lade🔪:

Do the ones in your area work differently than mine? Because they are usually a close nit group and all of them have to pull all duties. Including handing food to some people so ashamed to need the help it can physically hurt to look at them.

Yes, it seems so. Depends on the scale too. A large food bank in a large city can't be small or it can't function. It acts as a warehouse and similar to an assembly line. There are position that require very little interaction after you have been trained.

Such banks can change between cities, regions and countries.

Here, animal shelters tend to require a lot of human interaction as you are helping Vets and Vet techs as well as finding homes for the animals (calling, go out and talking to people, ect).

[Azza ☠]

As Boris, hang around pets if you like them better. The human mind craves social interaction, even if it is with an animal. It's a great start. If you have a dog, you take them for a walk... start to get out and around, say hi to people as you just walk by. Simple.

Honestly, people don't care and judge others as hard as you judge yourself. You are infact your own worst critic. As soon as you stop caring so much, the walls will break free.

Learn open ended questions to ask people (questions requiring more than just a single response or yes/no reply). The best social person isn't one that talks alot, rather just being a great listener. Most people enjoy talking, so just use that to your advantage and let them talk. You listen and just say a few open ended questions back. You will find they lead the subject.

Ignore the "What if?" rather consider why not... you got nothing to lose anyways.

Even this question you asked here is a huge leap forward, keep it up.

[gargamell999]

ever hear of a park ranger? goto a remote eara where you are on a fire watch job. endlessly watching miles of trees looking a forest fire.