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?

Can you get your shopping delivered or ask someone to do it for you?

You need to either work on the anxiety/get an online shop delivered/practise some resilience rather than take your mask off in the shop. YABU

Forgive me if this is something you've done, but have you tried wearing a mask at home for periods of time, where there's no pressure or stress at all. Potter about, watch the TV, do the dishes. 5 minutes, then 10, then 15 and so on, just to get used to the feel of it on your face and the fact that you can actually breathe, in an environment where it doesn't matter if you need to take it off and start again?

A friend did this with her (old enough to have to wear one) kids in the summer. Gentle build up at home without fuss until it stopped being so alien, and then out.

Is it one of the exemptions on the list?
If you genuinely can't venture out / have panic attacks, I think you would be exempt. You don't need to explain that to anyone.

Your mask is protecting others too, maybe think of it like that. Keep it on for them if not for yourself.

Maybe shop at very quiet times (9pm for example) so you can whizz round, and use the hand-held scanner rather than the checkout to save time.

This is going to sound harsh, but a panic attack isn't going to kill you, and giving in to them makes them worse and more likely to happen again. Google self help for panic attacks and head back to the shop determined and wearing your mask!

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.

What a horrible ableist thing to say.

Other shops are available.

Find a mask that doesn't feel so restrictive, you can get inserts that hold them away from your face.

Also.. I felt like this first few times I wore one. But I persevered and got on with it. Practise wearing one at home and get used to it. If it makes you that bad you will just have to stop going into shops. 🤷‍♀️ Sometimes you have to just do things that make you feel uncomfortable.

I think we have needed to wear face coverings for long enough now that you could find a solution.

A face covering that suits you. Anti anxiety medication. Online shopping. Sending someone else to get your groceries. Leaving the store because you can’t wear a face covering.

Have all of you missed the "panic attack" bit?

I'm all for mask wearing but we have two main concerns for those who can't:

1. Struggle to get delivery slot
2. Not everyone can afford the min spend

Not everyone can make alternative arrangements and the OP is at least trying. Something which Dave the conspiracy dickhead is not.

But people with genuine concerns bear the brunt because no one dares challenge Dave for fear of a physical attack from him.

OP, I think the suggestion of therapy to try to get you to wear a mask for long enough is the most workable. And please don't feel the need to explain the reasons behind your anxiety. It's no one's business and some posters will use it to play top trumps.

I really want people to wear masks but FFS, I haven't had a complete empathectomy.

I have medicated anxiety too, frequent panic attacks. I often feel I can't breathe properly in general, worse in a mask. But I wear one because it's the right thing to do. As tricky as I can find a mask I think breathing would be a lot worse with covid and on a ventilator.

No anxieties around waring a mask; I'm just anxious about all the idiots that can't be bothered to wear one so merrily pass germs on to everyone else with impunity - and especially those that start spluttering their germs around by shouting that they "can't" wear one.

If you were having a panic attack you should have left the shop.
I note voting has been disabled - were you anxious someone might disagree with you?

Why not try and build up to wearing a mask outside by practicing at home?
ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose slots were full? What about iceland, co-op, aldi, morrisons, tesco, morrisons via amazon?

The bit that bothers me in this post is 'mild panic attack' Panic attacks are what they are. They are not mild, they are all consuming and terrifying for the people experiencing them. What the OP is describing is mild anxiety. So YABU, put on your mask. I'm sick of everyone having anxiety about masks. I hate them. But I hate this shit show that life is right now and I want to get back to normal. So put on your mask.

Some people are heartless cunts. Lots of them are here it seems.

What a horrible ableist thing to say.

It’s quite eye opening to see everyone desperately caring about protecting others, whilst simultaneously saying who gives a shit about your mental health or invisible disabilities

1. If you're not able to put on, wear or remove a face covering, because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.
2. If it's essential to eat, drink or take medication.
3. If someone is assessing your health, you may be asked to remove your mask.

In England, the guidance also specifies that a reasonable excuse would be:

1. If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress.

Mental illnesses count, upon further inspection of the website. Don't let anyone who doesn't respect disabled people tell you otherwise.

Practice at home if you can , I also have agoraphobia, PTSD and autism but as part of my therapy my GP wants me to try and use the shop once a week - with a mask on... so I’m practising at home .

I still end up leaning on the shop window outside hyperventilating afterwards but it’s getting easier slowly .

The paper masks are also easier - pop a mint in mouth first or something and it’ll distract you .

No. I have anxiety and they gave me panic attacks at first but I gradually got used to it. You can do this

@Whatisapension

What a horrible ableist thing to say.

It’s quite eye opening to see everyone desperately caring about protecting others, whilst simultaneously saying who gives a shit about your mental health or invisible disabilities

Sadly, it no longer surprises me.

COVID is the only thing that matters anymore. Fuck mental health issues or any other form of disability.

It’s quite eye opening to see everyone desperately caring about protecting others, whilst simultaneously saying who gives a shit about your mental health or invisible disabilities

Oh don't you know? Many folk on MN are often consistently arsey to disabled people. It's really endearing.

The bit that bothers me in this post is 'mild panic attack' Panic attacks are what they are. They are not mild, they are all consuming and terrifying for the people experiencing them. What the OP is describing is mild anxiety.

I didn't realise you were there.

Perhaps taking the mask of and focusing for a min or two prevented her from going in to a full panic attack?

And having panic attacks doesn’t make you an idiot, far from it .