Do you ever feel like you aren’t making much of a contribution to the world around you?
Most everyone feels this way from time to time. Maybe your job does not feel that significant to you. Maybe you notice yourself complaining about things but not doing anything to change those things. Maybe you find yourself wondering how other people find time to do anything extra with their time or their money or both. It can feel like you are just plodding along and not making any positive difference for anyone.
That feeling might be amplified if you are struggling with the symptoms of a mental health disorder like one of the various kinds of depression, an anxiety or panic disorder, or a disorder stemming from past traumatic experiences. A mental health disorder can make everything seem harder—and can make you feel as though nothing you do quite measures up.
Now, we want to emphasize that the feeling that you are not contributing is almost certainly an illusion. Your friends, family, coworkers, members of your faith community, and others would likely disagree with the idea that you are not adding to the general good. Still and all, it is often possible to do more—and finding a way to do more can be a wonderful way to support your mental health.
Volunteering can be a wonderful way to boost your mental well-being. According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering reduces stress, which leads to improvements in physical and mental health; offers a sense of purpose as well the opportunity to learn new skills; and helps you build and deepen relationships.
So how do you get started? The first step is deciding just what kind of volunteering is right for you.
Find the Right Volunteer Opportunity for You
Given all of those potential benefits, you might be eager to get started as a volunteer right away. The good news is that there are likely many opportunities for you to volunteer. The bad news is that it can be a bit challenging to find the perfect opportunity for you. But the effort is well worth it.
Start by thinking about what sorts of things are important to you. Ideally, you will be able to find a volunteer opportunity that aligns with the ideas and issues you care about. For example, maybe you are concerned about homelessness in your community. Volunteering at a food pantry or a homeless shelter or for an organization like Habitat for Humanity would allow you to make a difference.
Similarly, if you love animals and want to ensure they have good homes (and good care while they wait for those forever homes), you might find volunteering at your local animal shelter to be extremely rewarding. If you have a heart for the arts, you might be able to volunteer with your local theater group as an usher or at an area museum as a docent. A local candidate might need volunteer staff to help run a campaign, or your elderly neighbor might need some help around the house or the yard, or your neighborhood school might need someone to read to kids.
Remember that it is perfectly okay to try a number of different volunteer options before settling into the one you most enjoy and where you can do the most good. In fact, you might find that serial volunteering—in which you move from organization to organization in an effort to stay engaged and help in a variety of ways—is what appeals to you most.
No matter your particular skills and interests, there is an organization or an individual who could benefit from the help you can provide. And as we have noted, that is a win-win scenario. Your volunteer activities are good for those around you, and they are good for you, too.
We Are Ready to Help You Improve Your Mental Health
When you are struggling with a mental health disorder, your life can feel out of balance and you might start to feel hopeless and as though things are unlikely to get better. When you are feeling that way, it can be all too easy to withdraw from friends, family, and responsibilities as you struggle to find motivation and joy in your life.
But at Peak View Behavioral Health, we are committed to helping you renew balance and embrace hope in your life. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View Behavioral Health provides personalized treatment for disorders including depression and bipolar disorder as well as suicidal thoughts, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders.
The path to better mental health and better quality of life starts with effective, evidence-based treatment that is personalized for your specific needs. That is exactly what we offer at Peak View Behavioral Health.
