Anxiety/claustrophobia due to wearing a mask at work

[Cyborgseadog]

Due to my current circumstances, I am now working in a minimum wage hospitality role. We are required to wear a face mask for the entirety of our shift. I have never until this point had any kind of anxiety, ever, I am just the most laid-back, relaxed person you can meet. But since going back to work last week, I experience the most overwhelming feeling of dread on a daily basis because of the face mask. I feel like I'm struggling for breath, sweating, panicking. I find it hard to calm myself down.

It made me realise that this could be the reason why I never learned to swim, the inability to hold my breath for even a couple of seconds without that "punched in the stomach" feeling that takes over. It affects my ability to perform any tasks, but I can't help it.

Any of you you out there with the same problem? Is there any help I can get for it from my GP perhaps?

@WhattheFishappening thank you.
Why does everything turn into a bun fight.
Don’t understand “ do the maths”?!? Easy tiger.
If the mask doesn’t fit properly , try other masks.
Have a lovely day everyone

Wear the mask under your nose so you can’t breath and a visor on top.

*can breathe

I suppose I could ask, but I imagine they wouldn't take me seriously at all. I am front of house, so to speak, and a visor might potentially put customers off. I hadn't realised how much I lip-read until retail staff started wearing masks. I'm really struggling to hear what people say when they wear a mask, and it's put me off going out as it's embarassing having to say "sorry, what did you say?" all the time, so I think you being front of house is a good reason to suggest wearing a visor instead.

I know where you work, and the masks aren’t cheap. They’re good quality medical masks. You can’t wear your own or a visor because we need to make sure everyone is following the same set of guidelines to ensure safety is met. With your own mask we have no way of knowing how hygienic it is.

You should be able to have hand sanitiser by the till though, that isn’t prohibited.

The reality is that if you won’t wear one, you can’t work there.