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?

@TrustTheGeneGenierust Why does she trump the person with the actual diagnosed condition?
Because there's no way everyone not wearing a mask has a medical condition.
Lots of people may find the mask uncomfortable or worrying but that's not the same as a medical condition. People exempt from wearing a mask should have a proper doctor's note/ NHS given lanyard not just self declare and this whole accusations and witch hunt could be avoided

[quote Bookworming]@TrustTheGeneGenie theOP isn't exempt! The question was if I have anxiety am I exempt? Her doctor hadn't agreed with her exemption. Is it up to the individual to decide then? Because as we've seen down thread some PPs don't agree that masks make a difference, can they decide they're exempt?

Our society must have a lot of anxiety sufferers, given the amount of people I see not wearing masks.

And yes exempt people should really limit how they go out etc, maybe walk at quiet times? Would you want to spread the virus because you were exempt? I'm sure you wouldn't.

Also, anxiety over face masks would be made worse by using a ventilator, surely that's to be avoided?

So which of the three options is best for OP?

Children under 11 have be proved that they don't spread the virus easily.
[/quote]
No, her doctor wouldn't issue a letter. Doctors will not issue letters for stuff like this in normal times let alone when they are so busy. That does NOT mean they don't agree with the exemption.

Why is Everyone so up in arms about schools is that is the case for children?

Anxiety over face masks would be worsened by a ventilator? You're sedated when ventilated. And if you're just on oxygen it actually helps you breathe so perhaps you should educate yourself before stating so confidently what would and wouldn't happen.

Also why are you so confident she would even need a ventilator? I hate this rhetoric of oh you'll end up in hospital. For someone physically healthy and youngish that's unlikely and b) the mask doesn't protect the wearer so she is no more likely to fall ill.

[quote AmIAWeed]@TrustTheGeneGenierust Why does she trump the person with the actual diagnosed condition?
Because there's no way everyone not wearing a mask has a medical condition.
Lots of people may find the mask uncomfortable or worrying but that's not the same as a medical condition. People exempt from wearing a mask should have a proper doctor's note/ NHS given lanyard not just self declare and this whole accusations and witch hunt could be avoided[/quote]
Ah so you don't believe she has a mental health condition? Would you question someone's physical health condition too?

They should but doctors have enough to do, don't you think? Or would you prefer they sacked off giving the vaccine in favour of admin so people could "prove" to judgemental arseholes that there is in fact something wrong with them?

@Bookworming

I suppose the question is "can people with anxiety" spread the virus?

Yes they can

That's your answer really isn't it?

You either wear it

Get home delivery

Get someone else to shop for you?

Which one of the these will you do?

This is the crunch. If you can't cope, then stay home or this bloody shit is going to drag on and on and on. All this bellyaching about rights and discrimination ffs. I personally don't want this virus to mutate again into something worse because people won't wear a facecovering for whatever reason. Virus doesn't care what that reason is.

@LAgeDeRaisin

Your responses are so typically medical and unempathetic its sadly unsurprising but typical of your profession.

The issue is that your mask is protecting others. Not wearing a mask could in theory pass on the virus to a vulnerable person who then dies - does your right to not feel anxious wearing a mask trump their right to life? I'm actually getting to the point where I think those who cannot wear a mask for genuine medical reasons should (a) have a letter from their gp and (b) have a specific telephone line for each supermarket if they can't get a delivery slot/click and collect and the supermarket will bring their groceries to the car park, no exceptions. It's tough but the situation is dire and people are abusing the exemption

@LAgeDeRaisin

'They get patched up, maybe some beta blockers by the GP or in A&E, and turfed out.'

This comment is disgusting. As a doctor you should know how utterly belittling and uncaring this short sentence is. However part of me also understands this demonstration of clear contempt for anything to do with mental illness is rife amongst doctors owing to an archaic and paternalistic approach to medical teaching.

FWIW i am an ex medic with first hand experience of how doctors are taught and the toxic culture towards mental health in the workplace.

OP - you are aware of the higher prevalence of mental health issues including suicide and addiction amongst doctors right?

6 months on and people are still being utter CUNTS to those who can't - not won't - wear a mask.

Roll on the day the bastarding things can be burned forever. People are just horrid about this.

@acatcalledjohn

I hyperventilate in mine, my dd had a full blown panic attack (she's prone to them and ended up blacked out) but still wear them to protect others and it's getting easier with the months. One persons needs do not trump another that's why 100% compliance is needed. I can't wear the kind behind my ears so have tube scarfs instead for instance

@TrustTheGeneGenie you are correct. I do not believe everyone claiming to be exempt suffers from mental health issues.
I believe many are exploiting this loop hole which means those who genuinely are exempt due to either cognitive or physical impairments are being treated with contempt because people are terrified of losing loved ones, their livelihoods and for this continual lockdown cycle continuing.
I am friends with a person who is blind, she can't socially distance because she genuinely doesn't know how close someone is. This means she can't go to the shops. The social isolation is not good for her so we do other things like frequent calls.
That isn't discrimination - it's a practicality and recognition of what she can do.

Not good enough at all. I don't think anyone likes wearing a mask. Many of us have probably had times where it has been difficult to breathe and end up feeling hot and flustered - I certainly have.

But you're not special so if you can't get past being a bit uncomfortable, please stay home. Or try a visor.

@TrustTheGeneGenie ok it's alright then if the mask doesn't help her but others then she should just not wear it?

Age had a mild anxiety panic attack in M&S, can't get Waitrose or Sainsburys to deliver, three people questioned her in M&S in one visit.

Hmmm, she's so anxious that perhaps if those can't deliver she'd consider Tesco's, Morrisons, or dare I say Asda?

She's not really trying to solve the problem is she? She's got options outside wearing the mask that she's not explored. Seems odd to me, that if you're anxious you wouldn't fully explore your options.

Perhaps the other options don't sell naice ham?

@FirstOfficerDouglas

Those of you going on about OP's right to spread the virus clearly do not have to work or do not have a son or daughter or partner working in a job where they "have to" be exposed to OP's breathed-out droplets.

OP - would you be happy for someone to come into your space and breathe all over you hour after hour, day after day? And to have no choice about it? Anyone who works in a public-facing role (and we NEED our supermarket workers, healthcare professionals, transport workers etc), has to put up with this shit from people who feel they can do whatever they like for "MH reasons".

By the way my DSis has severe diagnosed anxiety and so does not go into shops if she can avoid it. She has panic attacks but can wear a mask for fifteen minutes if she really needs to. Generally she waits for a delivery slot or asks for help.

Why is she breathing on people for hours a day? She presumably does social distance which is the more important bit.

And tbh I wouldn't care if op was someone I worked with because I'm not an intolerant arsehole.

What medical condition prevents the use of a visor?

No!

@RaspberryCoulis

6 months on and people are still being utter CUNTS to those who can't - not won't - wear a mask.

Roll on the day the bastarding things can be burned forever. People are just horrid about this.

Exactly, we want to be able to ditch them. It's a 1+1 thing. 10 months into this thing now, why would anyone want to drag it out?

Definitely unreasonable - sorry. We've all got to push ourselves to do everything we can to get through this pandemic, whether that's not seeing family for months on end, closing our business to comply with regulations and losing all income, struggling with teaching our kids at home - in comparison with these, wearing a mask when we're out in busy spaces is a small thing to ask. No one is enjoying it but most of us are doing our best.

I think you should practice wearing it for short periods at home; start with just five minutes at a time two or three times a day and build up until you can manage for half an hour or more. If you're in your home environment you'll feel calmer and more in control, then hopefully when you do venture to the shops, you'll be able to separate your general anxiety about being out, away from any anxiety relating to the mask.

I am classified as having a disability due to the severity of my mental health issues.

I wear a mask even though I am exempt. I choose to do this as well as to protect others.
No I’m not a martyr but whilst I don’t like wearing it one bit, I just feel safer with a mask.

Is there a reason you can’t wear a visor op, you may find this easier.

Lots of helpful advice about getting through this,.seemingly totally ignored by the OP.

You said that you had a mild panic attack and indeed, you managed to continue shopping taking the mask off so it wasn't as if you felt like you were dying as you do with a full blown attack.

What would have been reasonable would have been to go back outside, calm yourself down, doing breathing exercises, first without the mask and then putting it back in and go again.

Instead you decide that a mild attack which sounds like it just became unplrassbt justified continuing without and that's wrong.

Although personally I wouldn't have cared unless you were within 2 metres of me.

@AmIAWeed

I've seen lots of posts of people being supportive and saying if you can't wear one fine... however my DH suffers anxiety seeing people without masks. He had a panic attack and we had to leave a supermarket because there were so many people walking past him without a mask on and not distancing. He's terrified of not being able to work if he gets Covid and shutting his business He now won't go in a shop - why does your anxiety trump his? Can't wear a mask, get online deliveries or someone you know to shop for you. Can't cope with people being too close, don't go to the supermarket You won't get my support

Wait, so people who can’t cope with others getting too close should stay home, but if there are people who can’t cope with others not wearing a mask, the non-mask wearer should stay home. Why not ask people who can’t keep their distance to stay home? It’s not just you with that view, there was a thread the other day started by someone complaining about people not socially distancing and the overwhelming response was for her to stay home, not the other non-socially distancing people. But for masks the general opinion seems to be flipped, maybe because everyone is aware that they sometimes don’t keep to 2m, but non-mask wearers are all other people, with “pathetic” and “whiny” reasons and who cares about them and their invisible disabilities and mental health issues. Most people can wear a mask but do sometimes come with 2m of strangers, it’s very easy to say that the other people in those scenarios should be the ones to stay home (those not wearing a mask, and those bothered by people coming too close).

How does your husband find being around unmasked children in shops?

As for why does the non-mask wearer’s anxiety trump your husband’s, it’s not about it being more or less important, but the law says people are exempt.

think you should practice wearing it for short periods at home; start with just five minutes at a time two or three times a day and build up until you can manage for half an hour or more. If you're in your home environment you'll feel calmer and more in control, then hopefully when you do venture to the shops, you'll be able to separate your general anxiety about being out, away from any anxiety relating to the mask

Exactly what my son who has autism did. It was horrible at the time and he cried, but he did it. It's shit all round but we have to do this push to get rid of this life we're all in. I don't want to be sitting here in a year's time doing the same thread.

It's almost like severe anxiety could be considered a comorbidity 🤔

Person A doesnt wear a mask, gets covid, ends up on a ventilator and dies. Death cert should list anxiety as a comorbidities that contributed to their death within 28 days of a positive covid test. They may have died OF covid, but their anxiety and not being able to wear the mask may ultimately have been the CAUSE of them catching covid?

Therefore maybe we should give these people the same sympathy we give to anyone else shielding due to a comorbiditiy.

Person B doesnt wear a mask due to anxiety. But is subjected to a barrage of abuse from people who dont understand the severity of mental health conditions. Due to this assault on a very real medical issue they commit suicide. Not wearing a mask ultimately caused their death as a symptom of nasty nasty people accusing person B of trying to kill everyone around them. So to save all those other lives they kill themselves instead.