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How Becoming A Volunteer Can
Help You Too!!

It might sound a little selfish, which is the polar opposite of why people become a volunteer, but you can help yourself while you're helping others when you become a volunteer.

Many of the people featured as Positive Profiles in HIV Positive! magazine probably would have never become volunteers or activists if it hadn't been for their HIV positive diagnosis. While they began volunteering for different reasons, they found that it actually helped them in a lot of different ways.

If you think volunteering might be for you, here are some ways that it can benefit you personally:

Boost Your Self-Esteem

Volunteering can increase your self-confidence, self-esteem and help with a more positive outlook on life. Because you are doing something good for others with HIV, you can feel a sense of accomplishment and take pride in what you’ve done.

This boost in confidence and self-esteem will enable you to face life more positively. And the more you feel good about yourself, the more positive your perspective will be on your dreams, goals, and even life in general.

For those who are suffering from depression, volunteering can help fight it.

Helps With Feelings Of Isolation

For many people with HIV, the feeling of being alone with nobody to talk to is one of the worst aspects. Being a volunteer puts you in contact with people who share a common thread.

Since you are constantly working with others, you are never alone and you are also gaining a broader and more solid support group. This can help you to manage and get through any of your tough times.

Change your surroundings...Change Your Attitude

If you've been depressed and alone or if your peer group has put you in a downward spiral, most people that volunteer are positive and energetic. These are the types of people that you can benefit from associating with - especially if you are trying to get a new set of friends in an effort to get clean or sober or just want to start a more positive lifestyle.

Improve Your Physical Health

Studies have shown that volunteering and keeping busy can help prevent poor health. This is especially beneficial when you are HIV positive. Even for otherwise healthy individuals, volunteers who start early are said to develop greater functional ability and better health in their older years. Volunteers were also shown to have lower mortality rates. This means that people who volunteer often live longer than those who don’t, even when factors such as gender, physical health, and socioeconomic status are taken into account.

Increase Your Knowledge

Another thing that nearly 100% of our Positive Profile people have told us is to "Get educated." Whether you're mentoring, involved in peer-to-peer counseling or involved with support groups, when you're involved with others who are HIV positive, you can't help but learn more about HIV and learn from their experiences.

So Get Started

Obviously there's no shortage of volunteer opportunities...anywhere and everywhere. When you're HIV positive however, you have a somewhat unique ability to make a difference for someone else who is also HIV positive.

Some places to start might be at your local AIDS Service Organization (ASO) or Community Based Organization (CBO) that might have an HIV Outreach Program of some sort. You might also look into Hotline opportunities or Faith Based/Church Based programs.

The opportunities are out there and keep volunteering until you find a good fit for you. The benefits for others and most importantly, you can be immeasurable!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 








Copyright 2018, Positive Health Publications, Inc.

This magazine is intended to enhance your relationship with your doctor - not replace it! Medical treatments and products should always be discussed with a licensed physician who has experience treating HIV and AIDS!