By: Adam Cook
Living with social anxiety can be stressful and overwhelming at times, especially for those who need limited interaction with the public. Working in busy stores or restaurants isn’t always conducive for good emotional health, but staying away from people altogether often leads to feelings of isolation or even depression. While no one job will work for everyone living with S.A.D. — depending on diagnosis and treatment options — there are several paths to try when looking for a job that allows for limited interaction with others.
Some jobs will even give you the freedom to work from home but check in via Skype, or come into an office setting occasionally to check in with team members. Once you have a field narrowed down, it’s simply a matter of scouring the Web or nearby want ads to see what’s available to you. Here are five of the best jobs to look for.
1. Pet sitter
Working with animals can be extremely helpful when coping with an anxiety disorder, as they are known to foster positive feelings and create a soothing atmosphere. Many pet owners need a responsible pet sitter during the day when they’re at work. This sort of job can afford you a flexible schedule and allow you to visit local parks, dog parks, and other animal-friendly areas for those days when you’d like interaction with others.
2. Graphic design
If you have training in this field, you may be able to check sites like Craigslist.org and find several pages of jobs that will allow you to work from home either full-time or just part of the time. Many local colleges offer short courses on design that you can complete online (or partially online), and you can always check with local companies to see what their design needs might be. You never know if a nearby craft beer brewery or bookstore is looking for someone to create a new look for their menus or signage.
3. Cleaning/janitorial
Hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and office buildings are just a few of the establishments that require janitorial services, and many of them need people who are willing to work with a small team — sometimes overnight or during off hours — to get it done. Jobs such as these often allow for a more flexible schedule and will keep work hours relatively free of interaction with several people at once.
4. Counseling
Becoming a counselor can be a very rewarding job, and although it requires some social interaction, it’s usually just one-on-one in a quiet setting. You may be able to set your own schedule with a counseling job, as well, or dictate the setting.
5. Accounting
You will likely find several local colleges that offer accounting certification online, and tax prep firms always need good accountants to help out at tax time. Outside of that, you can offer your services to individuals on your own once you are accredited; it may be a good idea to contact some local tax preparation offices to see how much they charge in order to get an idea of what to set your fee.
Living with social anxiety disorder doesn’t have to mean complete isolation from others, and there are several job options for those who want to have limited interaction. In the right environment, these jobs can be easy, flexible, and lucrative!
Adam Cook has a strong understanding of the devastation that can be caused by addiction. He recently lost a close friend to an addiction-related suicide. In an effort to better educate himself and to help others, he created AddictionHub.org, a site that provides addiction and mental health resources. When he isn’t working or adding to his website, he’s prepping for his first triathlon.
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