"after a long stretch of un- and underemployment, I decided to give volunteering a try."

What? I guess this LW has wealthy family or something? Most people can't say, "Working just didn't work out for me."

Anyways, I wonder what type of volunteer work he or she was doing? If it were something like, say, working long hours with abused children, that could be draining, and calls for people with certain qualities.

I like that Prudie suggests trying different volunteer activities. Different people are suited to different volunteer work. When I was a volunteer at an animal shelter, a fellow student (who as far as I know, wasn't doing any volunteer work herself) asked that wouldn't it be better if I were helping humans instead? Well, maybe, maybe not. I'm kinda awkward and shy. Pick the good cause you feel drawn to.

Although LW didn't say this explicitly, I thought he or she might have been volunteering in order to make contacts that might lead to employment. When I was underemployed, people constantly told me to volunteer at the sort of place I'd like to work or join a board. It can be a job-finding strategy, but personally, having tried it, it's not one I'd recommend.

That was my thought, that volunteering was a road to a good job. I know somebody that tried this and it did eventually work - not that the job came from the volunteering but that the work done while volunteering added enough to his resume to make him stand out.

I guess I read it that the LW found work unfulfilling, hence the un- and under-employment, and was looking to the volunteering for some sense of purpose. But my point is that almost everyone I know who volunteers goes through some sort of burnout at some point. They wouldn't be human if they didn't. Granted, there are some activities that shield you more from difficult realities, and they might be easier, but they're also likely to be more tedious - letter stuffing, anyone? At the animal shelter where I volunteer, though, it's fairly common for people to feel the same way the LW did and need a break (and I disagree that an animal shelter is a place that will make you feel less "emotionally flayed," although if you consider purrs and tail wags rewarding, you will get a lot of reward). I think it's also possible that this person encountered a poorly-run volunteer program. Unfortunately a lot of organizations toss their volunteers into activities with insufficient training and resources to deal with the multiple emotions volunteering can bring up, or strain their volunteers to the breaking point because there is always more need. It took me a few tries to find the right volunteer gig, and I sometimes felt overwhelmed too. I would encourage this person to take Prudie's advice and try again, but research the program and see what kind of training they offer volunteers. Also talk to your fellow volunteers - sometimes a good rant can lighten the burden, and knowing that others are in the same boat is a relief.

I like the points tea-drinker brings up, but I think there are volunteer opportunities that offer a layer of protection from the most difficult interactions and allow one to make a useful and fun contribution. I volunteer as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) to children involved in custody cases. We have a big fundraiser every summer and a party for the children every winter. LW would be a wonderful asset if she showed up to help plan these events. That said, as tea_drinker pointed out, most volunteer organizations are desperate on multiple levels and LW would need to clearly state her boundaries.

There are lots of happy volunteer activities out there! It doesn't all have to be soup kitchens and lepers. Nor does it have to be a big time commitment to have a big impact.

Sponsor a child through an international charity organization. Write him letters. Send her birthday cards. Add the photos to your family album. I think of the little girl I sponsor as my Chilean goddaughter, and seeing her smile in the photos makes me happy.

Every year my Mom, sister and I go Christmas shopping for a "Grandma Lady", our name for the elderly women in nursing homes who have no family. These excursions are so much fun, and they really brighten an otherwise lonely holiday for an elderly woman somewhere.

Similarly, at the beginning of the school year, Mom likes to pick out a cute backpack and fill it with school supplies for a local underprivileged kid.

Sign up for a charity walk for a pet cause like breast cancer awareness or multiple sclerosis. Put together a team. Get sponsors to donate. Have a great day out walking with your friends in the sunshine.

Collect supplies and treats for the troops. Whether or not you support the war, the people there are our neighbors, cousins, and the kids we grew up with. Let them know you're thinking of them and hoping for their safe return.

I'm a "serious amateur" photographer. One of the things I do is offer my services to organizations like the Girl Scouts and a local teen suicide prevention group whenever they have large events. A few good photos is of immeasurable value to a charity's PR department, especially when they're free. Not everyone is a photographer, of course, but what do YOU love to do? How can you use that to help others? Get creative and make your own opportunity happen.

On the "looking to network" front, there's Habitat for Humanity, which always has corporate sponsors and volunteers from those sponsor organizations, churches, and many other places.

Finally, be good to yourself. Why take care of others ahead of yourself? How are you going to give hope to others when you have none of your own? In order to be good to others, you must first be good to yourself. And it's definitely not selfish to put yourself first.

How about volunteering to help in literacy programs, or English as a second language classes? Easy, not a huge emotional blast in it, and is ALWAYS welcomed by the charities who run these programs. (I know, work for a large charity and we're always begging for volunteers for these types of programs)