Volunteering has many benefits for a person with Bipolar Disorder especially if you are unemployed. Although I am not an expert in SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), my understanding is that if you are unemployed and on SSDI, you can still do volunteer work. However, if you start getting paid for your work or if your volunteer hours approximate a full time job, they may look at your situation. In any case, I would consult with them to make sure you do not jeopardize your income. That being said, there are lots of opportunities to do volunteer work, and it can have a great benefit to you.

You do need to decide on your purpose for volunteering though. The three options below offer some ideas on why you might volunteer:

1. If you have been out of the job world for a while due to your illness, choosing to volunteer in a career field you are interested in can help you decide on whether or not you could handle the stress of that job or even if you would like that type of work. In this option, you are looking at whether or not you can re-enter to work force with your disability.

2. Choosing to volunteer for short periods of time can also get you out of the house and interacting with real people. It is great to have bipolar support groups on line, but there is no comparison with interacting with live human beings. In this case, you are wanting to be interactive with others rather than choosing to isolate yourself in your house. This can also have a positive impact on a depressed mood.

3. Doing volunteer work also carries with a humanitarian "good feeling" of doing something good for someone else. It can also boost your self-esteem. This option is for those that have a genuine caring for the community. You are not really looking for a job or interaction with other, you simply want to help out your community. I suggest that many charities can use someone with this motivation. Those of us who have jobs, can also find this work rewarding too.

There are really many reasons to volunteer, but the above three hit the main ones. Once you know why you want to volunteer, you must decide on where you want to volunteer. The "Where" you volunteer depends on the "Why" you want to volunteer. The following three suggestions correspond to the above three "Why's".

1. You can look at places that you are interested in potentially working at in the future. It is important to assess your capabilities, education, and strengths to work in this chosen field. If you are lacking in these areas, you may want to volunteer at a place that hires people doing the work you want to do, but volunteer to do something simple like taking phone calls or scheduling meetings. Once you are in the door, you can start meeting people that do the work you want to do. You can ask them about how much education they needed to get the job, what strengths does a person need to gain employment in that job, etc. You can also inquire about the stress levels of that job. You may find out that you are not willing to get the education needed, or that you can not handle the stress of that job. In any case, you are able to get out of the house and do something positive with your time.

2. Speaking of getting out of the house, this is another main reason to volunteer. In this case you are looking for a place to volunteer that will give you lots of interaction with others. In this case, you do not want to be in a back office stuffing envelopes. Look at the places that serve the public. When you are "interviewing" for a volunteer position, indicate that you are looking to interact with people, and would prefer to work in a position that would give you that opportunity.

3. When you have a genuine interest in helping your community, you are looking for a place that offers humanitarian assistance. Most communities have several offerings in this area from your local churches, United Way, Salvation Army, Food Banks, outreach to the homeless, and the list goes on and on. Decide what your passion is, and then look for places that offer humanitarian services in those areas.

There are a few more things to consider before contacting the local businesses. One, you need to know how many hours you can offer those companies. You also need to have some idea of what you want to do for that company, but be open to what they need as well. You may be willing to answer phones, but maybe they need a temporary administrative assistant that would do more than just answer phones. You may or may not be up for that. On the flip side, you may want more responsibility than that company is willing to let a volunteer do so be flexible in the work you will do for them. Also, always consider your stress level. If you get into a volunteer situation and find that it is too much for you, ask to 1) reduce the number of hours you are working, 2) change the type of work you are doing, or if necessary 3) quit volunteering for a period of time.

For more information on employment for a person with bipolar disorder visit: www.ThivingWithBipolarDisorder.com.