Volunteerism as Trauma Therapy

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Gandhi

Trauma not only affects the brain, body and outlook, but also annihilates the perception of agency over one’s life. The abused child, the veteran struggling with memories of wartime horrors and the woman who dares not speak of what she experienced are often left feeling alone and impotent, vulnerable to the world’s ills. Mental health counseling is a time-honored technique for regaining a feeling of ownership over life, but supplements to these traditional therapies have been proven to help increase the efficacy of other methods and speed healing. When it comes to mental health, the more you give, the more you get.

Volunteerism is an alternative approach that researchers have discovered to be both personally empowering and socially productive. Studies have shown the practice to lower symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression while increasing life satisfaction and overall health. And frequency correlates with degree – the more hours, weeks and years devoted to service, the better the mental health outcome.

But why does an activity that focuses on others help the Self? Several theories have been floated about the power of volunteerism, but the correct one may be the sum of many, and personal accounts support that. Iraq war veteran Tim Smith credited his improved PTSD to being part of a team (Lett, 2018); Wisconsin Army National Guard veteran John Stuhlmacher appreciated his renewed sense of purpose and commitment to something “greater” than himself (Silver, 2019); meanwhile, Ricky Lawton, associate director at Simetrica Research Consultancy believes that social connection combined with the “warm glow” intrinsic to volunteering is what benefits the volunteers (Hopper, 2020). Ironic, but whether sorting cans at a food bank, walking animals at a shelter, reading to the elderly or tutoring a child, it is precisely the “escaping one’s own brain” that helps heal it.

The brain itself may play a part, as well, as the often-strenuous charitable activities (think painting houses and planting trees) relate to improved physical and, therefore, mental well-being. Research has yielded positive findings when studying the impact of healthy bodies on healthy minds, whether from the neurotransmitter dopamine released during exercise or merely the conscious satisfaction of a muscle burn.

But can volunteers absorb negative feelings from the people they help? A study out of Spain examined compassion fatigue which occurs when the compassion necessary to helping exceeds the capacity to regenerate, or “bounce back,” leaving caretakers feeling helpless (Gonzalez-Mendez & Diaz, 2021), akin to contagious sadness. The researchers explained that this arises from a “blurred self-other distinction” (Gonzelez-Mendez & Diaz, p.2); that is, the helper becomes compelled to withdraw from the situation in an effort to protect themselves from negative emotions. The answer: self-care. Altruism is admirable but going down with the proverbial ship is counter-productive, unhelpful to both the volunteer and the population in need. It is a delicate dance, deciding when to concentrate on the self or on others when overcoming trauma; self-awareness is key in finding the balance.

References:

Adams, R. E., & Boscarino, J. A. (2015, March 13). Volunteerism and well-being in the context of the World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks. International journal of emergency mental health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4358158/

Gonzalez-Mendez, R., & Díaz, M. (2021, September 1). Volunteers’ compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and post-traumatic growth during the SARS-COV-2 lockdown in Spain: Self-compassion and self-determination as predictors. PloS one. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8409613/pdf/pone.0256854.pdf

Hopper, E. (2020, July 3). How volunteering can help your mental health. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_volunteering_can_help_your_mental_health

Lett, B. (2018, April 15). Study shows volunteering improves mental health in veterans. DAV. https://dav.org/learn-more/news/2018/study-shows-volunteering-improves-mental-health-veterans/

Ohrnberger, J., Fichera, E., & Sutton, M. (2017, December). The relationship between physical and mental health: A mediation analysis. Social science & medicine (1982). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617306639?via%3Dihub

Silver, M. (2019, November 4). Veterans and PTSD: How volunteering can bring healing. WUWM 89.7 FM – Milwaukee’s NPR. https://www.wuwm.com/news/2018-07-12/veterans-and-ptsd-how-volunteering-can-bring-healing

Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Reprint ed.). Penguin Publishing Group.

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