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?

What shall follow is plenty of reasons why someone who feels anxious can’t wear a face shield either 🙄

'The virus' 'this virus' makes it sound like Voldermort

You know those cloth masks breath in and out too?
It feels like I'm suffocating wearing one.
I have ordered some not cloth ones, but how do they protect me? How do they protect others?
I go out once a day every other day to a local small shop, my meals since boxing day have been ham and cheese on toast.
Large supermarkets are scary places because of all the people. I want to speak to a human because if I rely on online stuff for everything I wouldn't see a living soul, ever.
Mental health services are shit in North Norfolk, I'd have to travel, why the fuck would I put myself at risk like that?
I've been diagnosed, by my doctor, with depression and general anxiety disorder. Therefore those people who don't believe mental health is a reason can go fuck themselves.
I will do what I can to protect myself, I will research ways of getting through this pandemic.
I will not give a flying fuck about people who have absolutely no clue about how debilitating panic attacks can be, whether they are "mild" or full on loss of consciousness.is
If I had an official letter or card is be over joyed, chances are it'd cost me because doctors don't do anything for free.

I remember at the start of last year when Caroline Flack commited suicide. Social media and just everyone in general were falling over themselves about how people should be kind, they were here if anyone needed to talk and how people shouldn't be afraid of speaking out and seeking help if they were feeling down.

At some point in the middle of last year everything suddenly switched and all kindness and concern for mental health was thrown out of the window. Anybody talking about feeling low, anxious or even suicidal is immeditley shot down and told to STFU because there are more imortant things going on.

It's scary how fast things can turn.

Important.

Use a visor instead

@Theunamedcat

Bang and the OP is gone!

For genuine people with anxiety speak to your GP they might be able to help you with resources to reduce your anxiety even medication that can help

Not surprised. Some of the responses have been vile.

No it's not acceptable. If you couldn't breathe and were in hospital you would be given an oxygen mask. If removing the mask meant you would die, I'm betting you would keep it on.

[quote Wontbemadetofeelrubbish]@neondragonfly I have to admit, if I had to choose between rape or death, I'd go with death.

You are seriously lacking in education and compassion.[/quote]
I hope you get the help and support you need. If that's your case, your situation sounds horrendous and I wish you all the very best. Genuine comment to your response.

Wearing a mask isn't great. I didn't like it. I got hot, felt short of breath and my glasses steamed up so I couldn't see!

You don't want to not wear a mask unless it's a last resort and it's sensible to try some techniques.

What worked for me is getting the right sort of masks (the surgical ones in my opinion are the best). Start desensitising by wearing it for 1 min, 5 min, 10 min etc at home.

I wear a mask for 12 hour hospital shifts - I now forget that I am wearing one! It just seems normal now even though I've always hated them (I have issues with claustrophobia).

You'll get there!

I have always suffered with anxiety and pubic disorder.

I still manage to wear my mask. I know what you mean when you start to feel enclosed and low-key your working on breathing which just causes a knock attack. But even then I either tell DP that I’m struggling and we need to hurry up, or if it’s really bad we leave.

I don’t take my mask off in the shop.

No it's not acceptable. If you couldn't breathe and were in hospital you would be given an oxygen mask. If removing the mask meant you would die, I'm betting you would keep it on.

Why do people keep coming out with this crap?

A) an oxygen mask would literally help you to breathe more easily, so if feeling like you can’t breathe properly induces anxiety then an oxygen mask would do the opposite.

B) You do realise this is also utter bollocks for anyone who has an aversion to having their mouths / faces covered for whatever reason? Speaking as parent to a child who had to be heavily sedated recently before a GA just so that they could just check his blood pressure and temperature, there are people who absolutely could not wear an oxygen mask without sedation or it being forcibly held in place.

When I see theses posts I’m generally baffled, there’s a virus out there killing over 500 people a day . Do they work ? I don’t know but at the moment until vaccines rolled out it’s all we have . I know all to well how bad anxiety can be my dads suffered with it for years . He’s suffering bad with it now as he had a suspected tia at weekend but when we went to A&E he sat in there for 7 hours with mask on . I know everyone’s different but I’m really at the point now where it’s just not acceptable,putting everyone else at risk wandering round supermarkets maskless. You can feel 100% fine and still be a carrier and spread it .

Op look for alternatives for shopping on line. Whilst I couldn't get a slot last lock down I discovered florists that delivered veg and fruit boxes and on line butchers. Served us really well.

It's not an excuse, I know and work with plenty of people who have anxiety, panic attacks and Asthma and can wear a mask to do some shopping, and try other supermarkets for slots instead of being snobby.

@Dreambigger

Considering NHS staff wear them for the entire shift ......you will be fine..just have a list and get in and out quickly. Its not worth the hassle you will get by not wearing one.

Exactly this as stated in my post above, and one colleague I know has really struggled but done it

@Sallydimebar

When I see theses posts I’m generally baffled, there’s a virus out there killing over 500 people a day . Do they work ? I don’t know but at the moment until vaccines rolled out it’s all we have . I know all to well how bad anxiety can be my dads suffered with it for years . He’s suffering bad with it now as he had a suspected tia at weekend but when we went to A&E he sat in there for 7 hours with mask on . I know everyone’s different but I’m really at the point now where it’s just not acceptable,putting everyone else at risk wandering round supermarkets maskless. You can feel 100% fine and still be a carrier and spread it .

That’s like saying “I know an autistic person who wears a mask so anyone who’s autistic can do it”. You do realise that everyone is affected differently by these things right? I have anxiety too and have no problems wearing a mask but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand that other people have a different experience. OP was wearing a mask and trying to get on with it and had a panic attack - it’s not like she waltzed in without one thinking fuck everyone else. If people could just not have panic attacks when it’s inconvenient why does anyone have them?

Stay home or wear a mask. The end. I've no patience with non-mask wearers, and don't think there's a reason to go out without one at all. If you genuinely can't wear one, then stay home.

@covidaintacrime would you feel the same if your child was autistic and had to wear a mask in school for example and people were saying if your child can't wear a mask they should stay home and said child's mental health was such that they needed to be in school.

I really feel that genuine cases should be allowed to not wear a mask. The problem really arises when you have the deniers refusing to wear masks as they can't be challenged and inciting others to do the same.
Both my conspiracy theory relatives are exempt from wearing a mask apparently.
The first one is always banging on about how she is in perfect health so no risk but is exempt on the other hand. The other one who claims an exemption wears one when she isn't in a mood to be challenged. So if you can wear one sometimes you aren't really exempt are you? Yet they accuse us sheple of not having critical thinking skills.
For full disclosure I suffer from mild asthma but wear a mask. Onluly on one occasion did it get too much so I went outside for a bit and removed mask.

Obviously putting it back on when I went inside again.

I notice that the good doctor who just loves helping people hasn't returned to give advice about wtf suicidal people are meant to do. Typical bullshit.

It's hard isn't it. I flew back from Australia and had to wear a mask and visor the whole trip and I'm terrified of flying and had multiple panic attacks. You do eventually calm down though if you breathe through it.

As someone who has quite extreme anxiety, some of which relates to PTSD after sexual abuse, I do appreciate it is not easy or a happy situation to be wearing a mask, I do however think that we all have a responsibility to do so or not go out.

If anyone suffers a 'genuine' panic attack ... good luck keeping a mask on! When you feel like your heart is racing and your can't breathe and want an ambulance at that moment in time, pure panic has set in and you think you are dying...... Don't know who I am more pissed off with, People who dismiss real anxiety and panic attacks.. Or people who say they suffer with it because they feel a tad nervous now and then

“ That’s like saying “I know an autistic person who wears a mask so anyone who’s autistic can do it”. You do realise that everyone is affected differently by these things right? I have anxiety too and have no problems wearing a mask but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand that other people have a different experience. OP was wearing a mask and trying to get on with it and had a panic attack - it’s not like she waltzed in without one thinking fuck everyone else. If people could just not have panic attacks when it’s inconvenient why does anyone have them?”

Valid point but my dads staying out of supermarkets for time being at least till he gets them back under control. I also know that’s not an option for everyone when you can’t get a delivery slot /have no-one to help but then we go round and round . My child’s loosing his right to his education every day this continues like many others god only knows when he will be back In . I personally think everyone should now be doing their bit and maybe op looks at alternative methods , like my child’s schooling is now being done by his parents while trying to work full time not ideal but that’s how it is .

Only you know whether you meet one of these criteria or not, so the opinion of randoms online is irrelevant. And if you are exempt, you do not have to explain your reasonable excuse to anyone but a police officer or transport official. Nor do you have to prove it.

"-people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability

-where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress"

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own#exemptions