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?

But the point is @Meredithgrey1 the op is asking is she being UR?

Yes she is, only tried to solve this with either Sainsbury's or Waitrose delivery. Not tried Tesco, Morrison's or Asda? Not tried click and collect?

As I said previously, it's maybe because the ham is not naice in the other options?

She's been given loads of advice........ but not responded to it.

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.

What were you doing in the supermarket together? No real need for both of you to be in there is there. Your hypocrisy stinks. You’ve said he won’t go in there now which is a step in the right direction but you shouldn’t have been together in the first place.

@Sandybanana7

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.

No, you don’t wear a mask despite being exempt, because if you can wear a mask, you are not exempt. There’s no list of conditions that give exemptions it is literally that if you can wear one you have to, if you can’t, you are exempt.

Some of these responses sound like people genuinely believe that all the people who have caught covid and ended up in hospital haven't worn masks ! I suspect majority of them wore a mask and were cautious everywhere they went but unfortunately still caught it somehow .. come on people really !!!

We are one of the only countries that has stupid mask exemptions. Why do we have so many people with such severe mental health problems that they can’t wear a mask?

Masks don’t restrict oxygen. They just don’t. I mean they aren’t the best if you’ve just run for a train (!) but for normal walking around and living, they don’t stop you breathing. The fabric ones are dreadful though, the medical ones are much better.

Asthma is also not affected by mask wearing from a physiological point of view. Because you shouldn’t be restricting your airflow in any way.

I do wonder what sort of masks people are wearing. Some of the home made fabric ones are very thick and I wonder if they feel restrictive and that’s why people can’t breathe in them.

One last thing- most HCPs don’t go into training thinking they are going to have to wear a mask all day practically nobody wears a mask outside of surgery for anything.

As said no one likes wearing them. No matter what I do, and tried all the advice, my glasses completely fog up. I feel uncomfortable and long to take it off BUT I DONT. Now it is mandatory I don’t think there should be exceptions. If you can’t get online shopping then ask someone else to do it for you. If you can’t do that there are usually people who shop for the vulnerable. It’s just too easy to employ an excuse which to those likely to be affected sounds a complete get out and a betrayal of all the valiant work that is being done on our behalf.

Its interesting becuase DH is worried about the virus, seeing people not wear their masks is lore likely to make him have a panic attack. Doesn't the thought of increasing the risk of getting a virus that could actually stop you from breathing scare you a bit more than wearing a mask?
I'm nhs and wear one all day so I'm perhaps not all that sympathetic. Luckiky I do mostly sit down. I've felt a bit funny wearing one in shops if I get hot and haven't eaten so I just make sure Ihave a bite to eat, maybe pop outside have a few breaths till I feel better then go back in. I find the surgical masks better than cloth masks. Its worth trying to overcome if you dont want the virus

@Bookworming

But the point is *@Meredithgrey1* the op is asking is she being UR?

Yes she is, only tried to solve this with either Sainsbury's or Waitrose delivery. Not tried Tesco, Morrison's or Asda? Not tried click and collect?

As I said previously, it's maybe because the ham is not naice in the other options?

She's been given loads of advice........ but not responded to it.

I wouldn’t come back to this thread if I was the OP, some of the replies are horrible. The thread in general has veered off from the OP’s specific situation and I’m not sure which of my comments you’re responding to. OP asked if anxiety was a reason, and as I said in my first comment, if the mask causes her severe distress then legally it is a reason.

What an absolutely dreadful thread, it is just vile what some are posting.

I wouldn’t come back to this thread if I was the OP, some of the replies are horrible.

@Meredithgrey1 suggesting she uses other supermarkets is horrible, yeah imagine the horror of having to deal with Asda produce to relieve your anxiety? Truly awful! The people suggesting this and using a visor, practising techniques are awful aren't they? 🙄

Socially distance, and wash your hands. That's all you need to do.

I really hope some of the sanctimonious posters on here have done everything absolutely perfectly (probably in fact not leaving the house at all for a year!). Pandemics clearly make ableists feel justified in spreading their vitriol to disabled people.

@Bookworming

I wouldn’t come back to this thread if I was the OP, some of the replies are horrible.

@Meredithgrey1 suggesting she uses other supermarkets is horrible, yeah imagine the horror of having to deal with Asda produce to relieve your anxiety? Truly awful! The people suggesting this and using a visor, practising techniques are awful aren't they? 🙄

Obviously suggesting she uses another supermarket is not one of the replies I’m talking about. I’m talking about the ones that have had to be deleted due to their horrible language

There's loads of helpful advice on here and lots of stories from people with anxiety who have overcome it! All ignored by the shouty brigade.

@TheGreatWave

What an absolutely dreadful thread, it is just vile what some are posting.

👏🏼👏🏼 well said .. unfortunately seems to be a common thing with MN now.

Iceland are very good with last minute slots, and you can even get basics from Aldi on Deliveroo in some places.
Over summer when rates were low I’d say YANBU, but right now, for the next month or two please try and keep out of crowded areas if you can’t tolerate a mask whatever the reason.
I would suggest contacting your GP for help with your anxiety but they are so so busy right now maybe see if there’s any service you can self refer to first and please don’t ask them for an exemption letter, it’s not their job for very good reasons (super busy, and you and everyone else would be much safer if you wore a mask or avoided M&S!)

Should we be screaming at everyone we are not wearing a mask? Obviously not. But we should all be taking reasonable steps to do the most we can do to bring infection rates down.

The thing with situational anxiety like this is the more you avoid your triggers, the worse they become. And avoiding our triggers isn’t healing or dealing with the roots cause of anxiety, it’s compounding the issue and ignoring it. I say this as someone who avoided going anywhere new, going shopping or really going anywhere other than work for 5 years! I’ve done the avoidance thing, I’ve also had extensive counselling and therapy for anxiety, regardless of the situation, COVID or not, imo you’re making excuses. I used to make them too. “I can’t do x because I have anxiety” when the reality is “x makes me uncomfortable and instead of dealing with that uncomfortable thing over a period of time to develop ways and means of making it less uncomfortable, I’m not going to do it” citing anxiety as the excuse.

While it’s not going to be a quick fix, it is something you need to learn to manage. Desensitise yourself to the mask and learn some coping strategies for your anxiety. I’m surprised so many people are just having panic attacks all the time, the physical toll on your body is a lot and you should have mechanisms to control and avoid them.

I think more and more people are living with anxiety and expecting the world to change to suit their needs, but in reality anxiety is something you need to address otherwise you allow it to control your life. There is a lot of good resources online about the brains neuroplasty and how situational anxiety literally rewires your brain if you want to find out more.

Some of these responses sound like people genuinely believe that all the people who have caught covid and ended up in hospital haven't worn masks !

Exactly. Every one I know that has caught Covid has religiously warn masks and use bottles of sanitizer like their life depends on it.

They also all see their families indoors even when it wasn’t allowed and nip down the shops for something to do. They’re wearing a mask so they’re protected right

Click and collect will be available somewhere. Anxiety seems to be an excuse for everything these days, and every other poster here say they have anxiety. It's not an excuse unless it's medically diagnosed and then you should get an exemption.

Check with the store to see if a clear mask is acceptable?

Every one I know that has caught Covid has religiously warn masks and use bottles of sanitizer like their life depends on it

It's amazing that you know that. I know good friends and close relatives who have/have had covid and I couldn't say with any certainty how much they've sanitised their hands or worn masks.

@Meredithgrey1 I think you may have read that wrong or it wasn't written well - my DH has not been to the supermarket since his panic attack. He can't cope with non mask wearers so shouldn't go out - in the same way, those who can't wear a mask shouldn't.
@mygenericusername I take on board what you say about 2 people shopping - you are right where people can shop singularly they should - we we're both at the supermarket when non essentials were open and bubbles of 6 we're acceptable, things appeared to be improving. Even at that point he was unable to cope.

I know because I’ve seen them. They preach about wearing masks and carry bottles of sanitizer in their pockets with another one in their cars just in case.

I run a social venue for the over 60s. We held a few very carefully managed outdoor events for them in the summer. The people I’m referring to wouldn’t come because it was too dangerous yet they openly boast that they have sneakily seen their children. All six of them have caught Covid. Don’t try to make your opinion more valid than mine. I’ve seen what I’ve seen.

Obviously suggesting she uses another supermarket is not one of the replies I’m talking about. I’m talking about the ones that have had to be deleted due to their horrible language

@Meredithgrey1 well she can't see them can she? I think OP is UR because she's not exploring many options.

All been explained, visor, other supermarkets, click and collect. Others with anxiety have explained how they deal with the mask issue.

I stand by that!

Little point asking a question if you're not going to engage with the responses.