An Examination of the Impact Volunteer Work has on the Volunteer

Volunteer Service is a unique opportunity for both adults and children to give back to their local communities and organizations. Whether a holiday season offering, a New Year's Resolution or just a summer camp experience, Americans all over the country reach out to both fellow man and animal offering support and service. For many, the benefit of the volunteer work is not only visible through the eyes of the recipient but also through the eyes of the volunteer himself. Offering both physical and emotional advantages, volunteers are experiencing an overwhelming sense of well being known as the Helper's "High".

Helper's "High" was first described many years ago and has been also known as the Helper's "Calm". Described in psychology when psychologists found that volunteer service provides for a combination approach to health; encompassing both a physical benefit as well as an emotional or spiritual benefit to the volunteer. Volunteers often describe this euphoric feeling as being similar to the feeling one may feel following a strenuous physical work out. For those who feel a sense of stress, volunteer service may provide an avenue for relaxation, instilling the Helper's "High", while giving back to the community at the same time.

In fact, research has gone on to show that individuals who suffer from chronic pain such as headaches, joint pain and muscle fatigue, may obtain benefit through volunteer service and a Helper's "High" experience. As the endorphins are released, sensitivity to pain is diminished thereby improving the quality of life for the volunteer. In fact, to achieve the Helper's "High", volunteer service does not have to be physically demanding. Many individuals involved in counseling sessions for the abused and mentally ill, state the Helper's "High" sets in following a day of serving the emotional needs of others. Through a simple offering of emotional support, volunteers can acquire the Helper's "High" and improve their own quality of life.

As many adults make New Year's resolutions leading to improved health, it is often forgotten that volunteer work or service may provide a dual purpose. Through servicing the community, volunteer service benefits the various organizations in need but also provides the individuals, seeking to establish a New Year's resolution goal, with an opportunity to improve both physical and emotional health. In fact, the benefits of volunteer service, and acquiring a Helper's "High", may result in a decrease in individuals seeking alternate New Year's resolution options such as fitness and gym memberships. Through volunteer service, one can obtain the much needed physical work out.

As with any charitable contribution, volunteer service offers the volunteer and opportunit to engage in a unique commitment of time which is so desperately needed in our society. Sharing time with others, in serving others, will provide for long term physical and emotional improvement in health and, in the short term, give the volunteer a euphoric sense of well being known as the Helper's "High".

For more information on volunteer opportunities in your area, visit www.volunteermatch.org.