Social Anxiety - generating income

DaveTheGeordie

Hello community. This is my first post. I have been reading the forum on and off for a while and I finally made an account to post. I have a kind of specific question. I hope it doesn't look like I'm wanting a pat on the back, only I feel it's highly relavent to explain a bit of background. I don't want sympathy.

My situation is that I have mental health issues. I have avoidant personality/social anxiety disorder. Basically I'm limited to solitary or very quiet jobs which in practical terms means my job opportunities are very limited, I can't interact with people, be around people etc.

I'm specifically looking for non-employed means of income which do not involve human contact (or bare minimum). I would prefer primarily money, but other currencies such as shopping vouchers etc are good too. I've managed to cut my expenses down to almost minimum, I really don't buy or spend much at all but I need sustainable alternate forms of income so I can be independant. I appreciate ANY ideas no matter how small, because I'm a fan of pooling resources. So far I have mostly done or considered:

- Metal detecting for change
-'Silver mining' (picking up change)
- Aluminium/plastic bottle recycling at scrap merchants
- Swagbucks and other survey sites (new to it but learning)
- Competitions, selling prizes (not many but occasionally)

Just to note, home telephone based work isn't an option either.

I really can't think of any more. Help is so appreciated.

grumpybear_3

Its a tricky one, as most jobs require at least some sort of interaction, if only occasionally;

Being anxious around people isn't necessarily a barrier if you're a reliable, hard worker and can make them work for you anxietywise

There are quite a few other options that might suit you that might be worth looking into;

Employed

Security guard / custodian - can be very low stress - especially overnight
Cleaner (schools / hospitals / office) - usually work when everyone is gone home
Warehouse Jobs (some of this stuff is more computer controlled than actually - human- human)
Filing clerk in hopsital / goverment office
Shelver in an archive / academic library
Computer programmer / admin
Production line work
Kennelman/maid at boarding kennel
Nurseryman / farm worker
Groundsman on park / golf course

Self Employed

Ebay trader
Window cleaner
Wheelie bin cleaner
General maintenance gardening for the elderly / infirm
Dog Walker
Cat Sitter
House sitter
House cleaner
Plant grower

Not sure if any of these are good suggestions, but see how you go, and don't sell yourself short!

nlj1520

Hi there, are you receiving any treatment for your anxiety disorder? If so, this may be only a stop-gap need and you could work towards being able to face a more 'main-stream' job in the future. With that in mind could you do an on-line course of study that would help towards that goal? I can't think of any other sources of income than the previous poster has suggested, sorry, but hopefully you can look forward to a less restricted future?
All the very best wishes.

miwa

Hi DavetheGeordie,
I experience something similar myself being a disabled since I was a teenager. If you have a diagnosis from a doctor I would look into disability benefit, there is no shame in it.
As for employment, even ebay sellers have to deal with customer queries and the like. If you have a talent - writing or arts and crafts - self publishing through Kindle or selling through etsy might be useful for some quick cash. Steady money however is hard to come by on Internet surveys and sites meant to supplement income.

rogerblack

miwa wrote: »

Hi DavetheGeordie,
I experience something similar myself being a disabled since I was a teenager. If you have a diagnosis from a doctor I would look into disability benefit, there is no shame in it.

Claiming ESA or DLA does not require a diagnosis.
Claiming ESA does require a doctors note.

GMbabies

grumpybear wrote: »

Its a tricky one, as most jobs require at least some sort of interaction, if only occasionally;

Being anxious around people isn't necessarily a barrier if you're a reliable, hard worker and can make them work for you anxietywise

There are quite a few other options that might suit you that might be worth looking into;

Employed

Security guard / custodian - can be very low stress - especially overnight
Cleaner (schools / hospitals / office) - usually work when everyone is gone home
Warehouse Jobs (some of this stuff is more computer controlled than actually - human- human)
Filing clerk in hopsital / goverment office
Shelver in an archive / academic library
Computer programmer / admin
Production line work
Kennelman/maid at boarding kennel
Nurseryman / farm worker
Groundsman on park / golf course

Self Employed

Ebay trader
Window cleaner
Wheelie bin cleaner
General maintenance gardening for the elderly / infirm
Dog Walker
Cat Sitter
House sitter
House cleaner
Plant grower

Not sure if any of these are good suggestions, but see how you go, and don't sell yourself short!

I've done one of the above jobs in bold and it is just like working in a normal office. You will have to have a plenty of interaction with other people

OP, are you any good at say English language?
There are plenty of people across the world wanting to improve their English so you could become an English tutor via email/word doc essay type or use skype audio. Also if you are good at spelling, grammar etc, you could become an editor or proofreader for university students.

DaveTheGeordie

grumpybear wrote: »

Its a tricky one, as most jobs require at least some sort of interaction, if only occasionally;

Being anxious around people isn't necessarily a barrier if you're a reliable, hard worker and can make them work for you anxietywise

There are quite a few other options that might suit you that might be worth looking into;

Employed

Security guard / custodian - can be very low stress - especially overnight
Cleaner (schools / hospitals / office) - usually work when everyone is gone home
Warehouse Jobs (some of this stuff is more computer controlled than actually - human- human)
Filing clerk in hopsital / goverment office
Shelver in an archive / academic library
Computer programmer / admin
Production line work
Kennelman/maid at boarding kennel
Nurseryman / farm worker
Groundsman on park / golf course

Self Employed

Ebay trader
Window cleaner
Wheelie bin cleaner
General maintenance gardening for the elderly / infirm
Dog Walker
Cat Sitter
House sitter
House cleaner
Plant grower

Not sure if any of these are good suggestions, but see how you go, and don't sell yourself short!

Thanks for the reply. I've done those jobs in bold. They didn't work out. I would do security again, if it were a quiet nocturnal job. I'm not sure about the others. They still seem to have a level of interaction past my threshold to me but thank you for the effort.

Dog walker looks good. I've watched out for it for a while, but not seen many advertisements. Maybe I should be more proactive and make a local add.

DaveTheGeordie

nlj1520 wrote: »

Hi there, are you receiving any treatment for your anxiety disorder? If so, this may be only a stop-gap need and you could work towards being able to face a more 'main-stream' job in the future. With that in mind could you do an on-line course of study that would help towards that goal? I can't think of any other sources of income than the previous poster has suggested, sorry, but hopefully you can look forward to a less restricted future?
All the very best wishes.

I used to work a very social job as a fitness instructor but I can't do that anymore. I've been this way best part of a decade now. I take a general anti-depressent, anti-anxiety medication. I'm registered with a pschiatrist but it's a very slow process. Not meening to have a whine, it just is. There's lots of passing around, months gaps in appointments and then when you do see someone it's portfolio/case building, which is understandable. I get that, still...slow is the word.

Thanks for your kind wishes.

DaveTheGeordie

miwa wrote: »

Hi DavetheGeordie,
I experience something similar myself being a disabled since I was a teenager. If you have a diagnosis from a doctor I would look into disability benefit, there is no shame in it.
As for employment, even ebay sellers have to deal with customer queries and the like. If you have a talent - writing or arts and crafts - self publishing through Kindle or selling through etsy might be useful for some quick cash. Steady money however is hard to come by on Internet surveys and sites meant to supplement income.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm sorry about your situation too. I don't think disability benefit exists anymore. It merged into/became ESA as I understand it. Or am I wrong? I'm in the process of going through that anyway. I fear they aren't going to take me seriously though. I'm reading it's very hard to get onto it for mental health issues.

I was thinking about writing a frugal/cheapskate book actually. Something like a 1001 tips but I don't know.

The survey sites tend to be very consumer based, naturally. So I find I get kicked/cut off most of the time. I just managed to finish my first complete one, which was a soft drinks survey. So I will do them still. I've discovered the click sites. Have you heard of that? Where you click daily for cashback. It's only a few pence a time but it adds up accross a few sites.

DaveTheGeordie

GMbabies wrote: »

OP, are you any good at say English language?
There are plenty of people across the world wanting to improve their English so you could become an English tutor via email/word doc essay type or use skype audio. Also if you are good at spelling, grammar etc, you could become an editor or proofreader for university students.

I'm fairly decent. Maybe above average. I think most places who need English tutors ask for a 1 year course certificate. I've forgotten the name of it. Basic something or other. Proofreader? I think there are teachers and qualified types who do that part time. I think I would be a bit out classed. Thanks for the reply.

Kirri

Doesn't really fit into your non employed type of work but could you cope with leaflet/local newspaper deliveries? Fairly minimal contact as only have to have them delivered to you once a week or whatever.