'A Sizzle of Anxiety'
– Volunteering at my first ADAVIC Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser
BY Jacqui – March 2007 (ADAVIC Committee member)
Have you ever contemplated volunteering for a good cause? Many of us have - selling raffle tickets, chocolates, leaflet dropping or even attending a fundraising function. So what about donating a couple of hours for ADAVIC at a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser – I accepted the challenge. I suffer from anxiety, and I have made great progress through attending ADAVIC support groups and therapy. However, I knew from the outset that this was going to need all my cognitive behavioural techniques and some positive self talk to get me through.
My first hurdle was actually getting to Eltham where the Sausage Sizzle was being held. This was an achievement in itself as I’m terrible with directions and get nervous driving to a new destination. Once there I started off by observing the process as my shift was due to start in about 10 minutes and I wanted to make sure I knew everything (prices of drinks, what a plain sausage cost compared to one with cheese and/or onion etc).
Then my anxiety levels increased as I wondered whether I could do this as I have a terrible habit of completely forgetting things when anxiety takes over. I can’t remember prices, how much change to give back and in this situation I knew I would forget what sausage (or how many) someone ordered. In my state of fear I realised the only job I would be able to competently do in the short term was cook sausages and onions as the very thought of money and orders would be too much. I explained my situation to the ADAVIC staff and they were most obliging in letting me cook sausages while I tried to get my head together.
It started to get really busy (lunch time) and fortunately I had become I bit of a wiz on the BBQ by then so my confidence had returned and the anxiety was under control. So rather than thinking I was just turning sausages I preferred to think I was now part of a team assisting ADAVIC to raise funds to continue their valuable work.
Since then I have volunteered for Sausage Sizzles at Wantirna and Box Hill and I am finding that although each time I am bit a anxious before I start my shift, I am now able to take orders and do all the tasks without much trouble. I find a great benefit of volunteering (apart from helping ADAVIC) is getting together with a team of people who are friendly, committed and as we work we chat away and get to know each other and have a fun time in the process. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to challenge their anxiety, have a few laughs and help a good cause in the process.
