To ask if Anxiety is an acceptable excuse for not wearing a mask?

[balihai550]

Just this...I had a mild panic attack in M&S today because for some reason masks make me feel closed in and like I can't breathe.

So I took it off and then had to explain to three people why I couldn't wear it. Anxiety in their view wasn't a good enough reason.

I often try to get online shops but atm all the ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose slots in my area are gone, so have to venture out.

Is not wearing a mask because of Anxiety and panic attacks unreasonable?

I feel anxious when I go into a shop and someone isn't wearing a mask.
If you really can't wear a mask keep out of the shops. It's a pandemic and you not wearing a mask puts others at risk.

I have anxiety but wear my mask 8 hrs a day, it's not nice and I often go to the loo just so I can't take it off but I pull myself together and get back to it and just keep telling myself I'm doing it to protect others and not to be selfish so YABU

Ever think people can cope with things differently and you can't hold everyone to your own very niche personal expectations?

So apparently those with Trigeminal Neuralgia, PTSD or autism for example should be under house arrest.

Piss off.

If you really can't wear a mask keep out of the shops.

As if that's practical or ethical. Not all shops deliver to every area, on top of the fact that disabled people have just as much a right to leave the house as you do.

I expect the shop worker feels anxious at the sight of all these people who have an excuse for not wearing a mask for 20 mins who feel their 'anxiety ' trumps their health.

I get anxiety and I definitely start over breathing with a mask on and I wear specs, but tbh I just try and relax my breathing, which helps.
I would never in a million years tell anyone I couldn't wear one. It's not glued to me, I just have to wear it.
Can you just suck it up and get on with it like I do? I doubt you'll pass out

I expect the shop worker feels anxious at the sight of all these people who have an excuse for not wearing a mask for 20 mins who feel their 'anxiety ' trumps their health.

The shop worker can feel anxious, and if it's debilitating / fits into the guidelines for exemption, they too can not wear a mask. Is everyone starting to see how this works yet?

On top of the fact that masks work as part of a bigger picture. If you're not wearing a mask, socially distancing or washing your hands then it is more of a general health concern.

@Macaroni46 shut up.

Goes the same way! You expect others to give flying f*ck about you but you won't show them the same? Your comment is discriminatory and I can't quite believe you expect someone to stay indoors because of an invisible condition.

Can you just suck it up and get on with it like I do? I doubt you'll pass out

Jesus Christ, people have to be taking the piss or sockpuppeting or something. These are borderline satire.

I’m sorry you had a panic attack and I hope you are feeling better now. I have an anxiety disorder, and I don’t think people truly understand just how debilitating it can be, hence some of the unkind and unhelpful comments on here. If wearing a mask causes extreme distress then you are exempt, this includes a wide range of people including some with autism, ptsd and anxiety. If you are exempt then you really shouldn’t need to explain why. I used to work in care, but my doctor signed me off as soon as mask wearing became mandatory due to anxiety. There was no way I would wear a mask for twelve hours a day. I have managed to train myself to wear a mask for short periods through wearing it around the house. I found practising in the house really helpful because I felt like I could remove the mask if I began feeling uncomfortable, and the fact that there was no one there to witness me panicking. I would wearing whilst doing something to distract myself like the hoovering, ect. Good luck.

I don't like wearing mask. I get breathless and I am asthmatic. I just stop, try to take as deep breath as possible and don't move on until the panic feeling subsides. No one has given me permission not to wear it so I just wear it. Once before Xmas I had to just get to check out without finishing shopping as gasping but I force myself to wear it whenever I go outside door. I don't go out often.

The inverted commas are making me angry.

OP get one of the clear face shields. I have severe pnd, panic attacks and general dear of asphyxiation. I wear one of the hard nose and mouth visors.

All these people bad mouthing you should realise masks only work if medical standard.
Also, you can only spread covid if you've got covid. Which for most people isolating at home is highly unlikely.

I think there are two types of people ATM. People who have been forced to work in it and have developed a little realism.
And people who have his in their houses all year and have extreme anxiety and are sanctimonious as a result.
But wear a visor or get an exemption card. Because it's not worth the hassle.

You don't have to wear a mask caringcarer it's not compulsory if you have asthma. If you can of course then I'd recommend it, but you fully have legal permission not to if that worries you.

@caringcarer you have been told you don't have to wear one, with the exemptions list. You don't need to put yourself through it.

I can’t wear a scarf, tie, cravat, bow, polo neck or high crew neck in normal times
Anything near my face or that could potentially restrict my breathing is a real no no
Severe claustrophobia is tricky pre COVID
The upside is I feel less hemmed in wherever I go!
I can manage a mask for up to 30 seconds
I’m also deaf and rely on other people to translate if I can’t lip read
Also have other disabilities which restrict me but are not obvious to others
Perhaps I should just stay home? Who will then look after elderly DM?
Who will support DP through severe MH issues?
Who will do my job? I manage a charity supporting thousands of people who are far more vulnerable than me! I’m also keeping 10+ people in a job, and contributing to the local economy
In the black and white MN world I shouldn’t be even leaving my house

I'm so over listening to / reading these these pathetic posts! For the love of god, wear the damn mask or make other arrangements to do your shopping! It's really not that hard!!

Pathetic? For being disabled or mentally ill? Yikes.

I live in a country where it's been compulsory to wear masks everywhere in public since last March. No mask, no entry, no exceptions! No one wants your damn germs! Go home and take your anxiety with you - and before you say it YES! I suffer from it too!

What about people who have been raped and suffer PTSD (as has previously been mentioned)? Your lack of compassion is pretty indicative of a bigger issue that face exempt individuals.

@Macaroni46

I feel anxious when I go into a shop and someone isn't wearing a mask. If you really can't wear a mask keep out of the shops. It's a pandemic and you not wearing a mask puts others at risk.

This

In general masks should make panic attacks better because you breathe in slightly more carbon dioxide wearing one and if you're hyperventilating then this should help (the same principle as cupping your hands over your nose and mouth or using a paper bag).

Keep wearing a mask and just try wearing one for a few minutes at a time at home until you can cope a bit better with it.

In general masks should make panic attacks better because you breathe in slightly more carbon dioxide wearing one and if you're hyperventilating then this should help (the same principle as cupping your hands over your nose and mouth or using a paper bag).

Not if you have sensory issues.

@neondragonfly

I'm so over listening to / reading these these pathetic posts! For the love of god, wear the damn mask or make other arrangements to do your shopping! It's really not that hard!! As someone quite rightly said above, you'll hate wearing an oxygen mask even more!

I live in a country where it's been compulsory to wear masks everywhere in public since last March. No mask, no entry, no exceptions! No one wants your damn germs! Go home and take your anxiety with you - and before you say it YES! I suffer from it too!

I think wearing an oxygen mask will be slightly better because you will be getting oxygen.

That being said, why would the OP need to wear an oxygen mask?

I'm sure I read in the papers today that Sainsbury's said it has to be a mask OR a visor. So perhaps try wearing the latter.

I live in a country where it's been compulsory to wear masks everywhere in public since last March. No mask, no entry, no exceptions!

Brilliant. I’ve got a great idea - why don’t we just go back to putting disabled people and hysterical women in asylums so they don’t have to bother your life at all.

I swear to god, I do not understand why the ableist shit spouted here is allowed to stand.

I don’t understand people who have anxiety but it’s caused by wearing a mask rather than fear of catching covid. In our hospital you wear a mask or a visor. The only people who don’t wear either are really little children or patients without capacity. Interestingly we have had minimal push back as funnily enough everyone wants to feel safe in a hospital. We also have 3000 staff members and out of that 4 wear visors and everyone else wears masks so I find it really hard to accept so many can’t wear them in a shop for a short time. People not wearing masks gives everyone else anxiety so why does one person’s anxiety trump everyone else’s?

I would suggest those who really struggle try the medical grade masks as they’re easier to breathe in than many of the fabric ones.