Wearing masks everywhere indoors is so depressing

[Sossen]

AIBU to feel frustrated and, at times, a bit upset that I can’t really do anything indoors now, either on my own or with my kids, without wearing a god damn face mask? I’ve just about been able to tolerate wearing them whilst food shopping but that’s because I now take a lot of time to write out a list and meal plan beforehand and I get in and get out, as opposed to before, when I took the time to browse, picked out what I fancied, and maybe tried on some clothes whilst there. I can cope with this ok but what is depressing me is that my ds is desperate to go to a few indoor places like the trampoline park (our local one has strict guidelines in hygiene social distancing and staggering sessions) and I’ll take him but the thought of sitting there for an hour and a half opposite my dh trying to talk to him with a mask on or watching my ds play and he can’t hear me because of the mask, well it fills me with dread. I had a cinema pass which i’ve has for years but I’ve already cancelled It as there is no way I can sit for up to 3 hours with a mask on, it would be unbearable. Every day out we go on that is predominantly outdoors but have some indoor areas I’ll have to remember to take masks with me. If I nip to post a letter, pick up my medication, go into a public car park to get my car after work I have to wear a mask. I expect to be told I’m moaning but I can’t help it. I fully resent the fact that I am being told to cover my face and I have no choice in the matter. Please tell me I’m not the only one.

This article has lots of links to scientific evidence that mask wearing is beneficial, in case anyone is still wondering.
www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent#:~:text=But%20health%20experts%20say%20the,people%20wearing%20masks%2C%20the%20better.

Link that actually works:

www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent#:~:text=But%20health%20experts%20say%20thepeople%20wearing%20masks%2C%20the%20better.

Gosh @Bizawit. All that money people spend on professional soundproofing when they could just use a thin layer of cotton.

Unless you're deaf and the masks mean you can't lipread, masks do not hinder your ability to communicate. They are not soundproof nor do they prevent you from moving your jaw.

OP entirely sympathise with you, they are awful. Fell down and smashed my knee because they affect my sense of depth perception so much I didn't see a pavement kerb.

But unfortunately you will have the good Covid citizens on here lecturing you.

I am a nurse and have worn FFP masks for years in infection rooms, I can cope with using them in that confined, usually air conditioned space, with regular breaks. However using them during any activity that requires any exertion e.g. pulling a suitcase on a hot day as I was when I fell is a whole different matter believe me.

What's annoying is that I have read the Oxford meta analysis on masks and the evidence for their efficacy is beyond flimsy, not one randomised controlled trial done anywhere. Also read Carl Heneghan from the centre for evidence based medicine, who also says the evidence is wafer thin. Many nations that have been wearing masks from the beginning are having problems anyway, eg Argentina introduced them in April but have a very high rate of infection anyways.

So I am very annoyed that I smashed my knee for an intervention that has little or no evidence behind it, if you go to the original sources!

You have my sympathy.

People saying that the numbers of infections are low now so what’s the point?

Perhaps part of the reason they are remaining low is because we are wearing masks?

The government scientists have said we’re about at the limits of what we can to loosen the lockdown. It’s a real balancing act between being able to get on with our lives and keeping the virus in check - if we went back to normal tomorrow those small numbers would multiply quickly.

Masks clearly aren’t perfect but if most people are wearing them and they prevent the virus spreading half of the time then that’s a significant effect.

Clearly from this thread some people are finding it difficult (and it feels really unnecessary for people who are at risk of having panic attacks etc to feel forced to wear them - we don’t need 100% compliance) but I think polling shows the majority of people support their use and are happy to wear them which should be enough to make a difference.

Perhaps part of the reason they are remaining low is because we are wearing masks?

There’s no evidence to support that. Numbers have been falling for a while. If anything, they’re going up now compulsory mask wearing has been introduced.

I don't love wearing a mask but I do.
It's hardly made of barbed wire. I'd hate getting covid more.

There’s no evidence to support that

...?

There is plenty of evidence that en masse mask wearing reduces spread of the virus.

@Lockheart

Gosh *@Bizawit*. All that money people spend on professional soundproofing when they could just use a thin layer of cotton.

Unless you're deaf and the masks mean you can't lipread, masks do not hinder your ability to communicate. They are not soundproof nor do they prevent you from moving your jaw.

Plenty people can't hear what you are saying behind a mask. I can't most of the time and the amount of customers who can't is frustrating especially behind a plastic screen. I repeat myself a hundred times a day and ask them to repeat themselves numerous times a day. We ususlly end up at the end of the screen laughing at the absurdity of it.

There is plenty of evidence that en masse mask wearing reduces spread of the virus.

The U.K. was not wearing masks en masse until very recently. How can that have caused our infection rates to fall when the majority of people didn’t wear one until it became compulsory?

I disagree there is convincing evidence, not one RCT on masks, and as I said countries that are wearing masks such as Argentina sine April seeing lots of infections. Even the Oxford meta analysis (which came down weakly on the side of masks) stated that social distancing/hand hygiene are really key. Masks are just one variable that has a thin sliver of observational studies on their side.

@Lockheart

Gosh *@Bizawit*. All that money people spend on professional soundproofing when they could just use a thin layer of cotton.

Unless you're deaf and the masks mean you can't lipread, masks do not hinder your ability to communicate. They are not soundproof nor do they prevent you from moving your jaw.

Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you can hear sounds, but it’s difficult to understand what people are saying or have a conversation when two people are masked. The human face is extremely important for communication- we rely on visual as well as auditory cues. These are facts. Sorry if they don’t fit your narrative.

@lakesidesummer

Masks aren't fun, no one enjoys wearing one. Where I live we have been wearing masks since March. Kids going back to school will wear them. It becomes more normal with time. The UK should have been wearing masks for much longer than it has been but it hasn't been particularly well led through Covid. ( Sunak seems to have done an ok job economically to be fair)

Becoming normal to cover the face in public - that will never be normal. I, and many more, will never accept it as normal.

YABU. This is an awful disease and wearing a mask seems like a minor inconvenience compared with the disease.

I watched this programme by Dr Chris and Dr Xand a few days ago. It really brings it home to you how awful the disease is. Dr Xand caught Covid and then got heart problems. The treatment involved stopping and restarting his heart. Poor Chris burst into tears while he watched.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ljnb

I don’t understand why they have to be worn in accountants’ and solicitors’ offices now, but not other offices. Why? Are they more disgusting and germy?!

I disagree there is convincing evidence, not one RCT on masks

How on Earth would an RCT on mask-wearing and COVID-19 be possible/ethical? It wouldn't.

There is, however, a multitude of lab experiments showing that masks block respiratory droplets and experiments of nature that show mask-wearing reduces community spread.

I can't find a single literature review that doesn't recommend mask-wearing to reduce the spread.

Yes cardioversion - seen it. Still not convinced about masks preventing anything from the scientific evidence sorry. Still annoyed about my smashed up knee because masks cost out a small but crucial part of my peripheral vision and proprioception.

@TheClaws

Willow Lots of people coughing around you can occur: at school; on public transport; at mass gatherings like music concerts; demonstrations; in malls; in hospital waiting areas ... Anywhere, in fact, where humans gather in numbers. Imagine this scenario: you are shopping and a chemical smell spreads throughout the area. Everyone in the vicinity, by reflex, begins to cough uncontrollably. In the current COVID environment, it would be far better for these people to be masked - or anyone COVID-positive would spread their virus particles far and wide, infecting many of the others.

That's a hell of a difference to coughing in your face.

In your chemical smell 'scenario, the first thing I would be doing is ripping the mask off to get available air - I very much doubt I'd be the only one.

Imaginary, unlikely, catastrophic scenarios seem to be a MN speciality.

Sweden's rate of infection is similar to the UK. They are NOT wearing masks. In fact they did not go into lockdown

Look at the centre for evidence based medicine Carl Heneghan, can't link as I am crap at doing links on Mumsnet, but it's easily googlable.

Yes you're right RCT's haven't been done because I believe all mask studies have been done in hospitals not the community, so obviously would be unethical as HCP's have close sustained contact with patients (if you've ever been near the rear end during a motion as I have you will know why!)

So evidence remains thin.

'The U.K. was not wearing masks en masse until very recently. How can that have caused our infection rates to fall when the majority of people didn’t wear one until it became compulsory'

Because we had lockdown, that's why. If masks plus hygiene plus social distancing can prevent complete lockdown, surely it is worth it (for those who can wear masks)?

It’s a PITA, definitely. I’ve lost count of how many times I have to turn around and go home to get my mask when I realize I’ve forgotten it at the door to the shops!

I’ve started avoiding going to indoor places because my baby can’t see my mouth when I’m talking and I’m worried about the impact on her language development. Also, it makes me panicky when I feel like I can’t breathe properly.

I’m absolutely dreading winter because where we live it snows so much that we are more or less stuck indoors for six months of the year.

YANBU. Just because we have to do something it doesn’t mean we have to like it.

Because we had lockdown, that's why. If masks plus hygiene plus social distancing can prevent complete lockdown, surely it is worth it (for those who can wear masks)?

The point at issue is what masks actually add to hand hygiene and social distancing.

I can't find a single literature review that doesn't recommend mask-wearing to reduce the spread.

Actual mask wearing yes will reduce spread but only if all other rules to reduce spread are followed and masks are worn correctly. They simply give people a false sense of security.

Whinging about people whinging is even more pointless.