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’ve got Chronic Sinusitis as well as anxiety. I just use my Neti Pot and Vicks Inhaler more. Better that than risk someone else’s life.

Apologies Fraggle I hadn’t seen your post and mine was badly timed and not meant to be personal. I didn’t RTFT

@FraggleShingleBellRock I’m so sorry. This is EXACTLY why sanctimonious holier-than-thou individuals need to mind their own business. You have no idea what is going on in other people’s lives or what they’ve been though. You might think you can tell from looking at them, but you can’t. Put your own mask on, wash your hands, stop touching your face, and keep the appropriate distance from others (notice how many people DON’T do this, as if their patterned piece of cloth with elastic loops on the side is a miraculous forcefield of coronakilling wizardry)

When the world goes back to normal I will struggle to forget what utter arseholes so many people have been.

@Chimboo me too, there are some people I will never look at in the same way again.

@LAgeDeRaisin

Hi OP, I'm a doctor on a covid ward.

I get anxious wearing a mask and full PPE at work because lots of my patients are dying of covid. I get stressed because the visors steam up and make it hard to see to cannulate/do other procedures. My anxiety is made worse because all of these things can slow down how fast I can treat patients, how quickly I can move from one patient to another. The time lag to attending an emergency.

This whole bloody pandemic is awful for everyone. We've all got to do things we really don't find comfortable. People are dying, and it's people like me that have to (over and over and OVER AND OVER and over again) call hysterical families to tell them their brother, son, sister, daughter, mother, friend, whoever is dead. Dead forever. Dead when they might not be dead if everyone wore a mask, at all times, when out of their own homes.

Why should your anxiety about masks override my anxiety about another mass of the population dying? People who otherwise might be leading happy lives for many more years?

Why does your anxiety trump mine?

Just because you can't see the outcome of your actions, doesn't mean I dont.

Next time you feel anxious in a mask, leave the shop and come in again once you've calmed down. Don't risk somebody's life.

Great post.

No. I don't think it's a reasonable reason.

Just for reference I have actually spent several weeks in hospital for a condition relating to anxiety but I do think that it's a good idea to build up gradually your mask wearing time at home and to get someone to shop for you until you feel comfortable enough to wear one whilst shopping.

Masks do protect you to some extent (particularly medical grade ones) and Covid will make you feel like you're suffocating for fear longer than a mask will so it's worth it even just to protect yourself.

@LAgeDeRaisin

Hi OP, I'm a doctor on a covid ward.

I get anxious wearing a mask and full PPE at work because lots of my patients are dying of covid. I get stressed because the visors steam up and make it hard to see to cannulate/do other procedures. My anxiety is made worse because all of these things can slow down how fast I can treat patients, how quickly I can move from one patient to another. The time lag to attending an emergency.

This whole bloody pandemic is awful for everyone. We've all got to do things we really don't find comfortable. People are dying, and it's people like me that have to (over and over and OVER AND OVER and over again) call hysterical families to tell them their brother, son, sister, daughter, mother, friend, whoever is dead. Dead forever. Dead when they might not be dead if everyone wore a mask, at all times, when out of their own homes.

Why should your anxiety about masks override my anxiety about another mass of the population dying? People who otherwise might be leading happy lives for many more years?

Why does your anxiety trump mine?

Just because you can't see the outcome of your actions, doesn't mean I dont.

Next time you feel anxious in a mask, leave the shop and come in again once you've calmed down. Don't risk somebody's life.

I'm disgusted with your attitude and you call yourself a doctor? You should be ashamed of yourself!

I'm disgusted with your attitude and you call yourself a doctor? You should be ashamed of yourself!

It was a perfectly reasonable post, I am disgusted with you for being so very self righteous.

a doctor should know better than to belittle anxiety - what with it being a medical condition. A doctor shouldn't belittle ANY medical condition. A doctor shouldn't be judgemental.

When the world goes back to normal I will struggle to forget what utter arseholes so many people have been.

Me too, it's been very disillusioning.
It's also been quite counter-productive as it's made me far less caring towards society in response.

@MaxNormal

When the world goes back to normal I will struggle to forget what utter arseholes so many people have been.

Me too, it's been very disillusioning.
It's also been quite counter-productive as it's made me far less caring towards society in response.

yep me too, i generally thought most people were quite tolerant. Nope. If anything its taught me to look out for loved ones, because no fucker else will, and fuck everyone else. Dont get me wrong, i've followed all the rules to the letter but do i feel emotionally involved in strangers lives? Nope.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

a doctor should know better than to belittle anxiety - what with it being a medical condition. A doctor shouldn't belittle ANY medical condition. A doctor shouldn't be judgemental.

Said doctor wasn't belittling anxiety- they were saying that they are also struggling with it. Many doctors and nurses will have Post Traumatic Stress after this is over and for some it will ruin their lives for years to come.

Even people with significant anxiety disorders should build up their tolerance to masks or attempt to get someone else to shop for them in the first instance and only shop without a mask if there is absolutely no other option.

We are told to assume we have Covid and act accordingly- do people really want to be responsible for spreading it around?

@MaxNormal

When the world goes back to normal I will struggle to forget what utter arseholes so many people have been.

Me too, it's been very disillusioning.
It's also been quite counter-productive as it's made me far less caring towards society in response.

Mask wearer don't want their family members to become seriously ill or die as a result of non-mask wearers, it's quite simple really.

Said doctor wasn't belittling anxiety- they were saying that they are also struggling with it. Many doctors and nurses will have Post Traumatic Stress after this is over and for some it will ruin their lives for years to come

Even if you dont think she was, then what was her point? my anxiety is more important than your anxiety? or anxiety doesnt need treating? or what? Yes, many medics will suffer, shall we send them all ignorant nasty comments and tell them to get on with it as well or?

Even people with significant anxiety disorders should build up their tolerance to masks or attempt to get someone else to shop for them in the first instance and only shop without a mask if there is absolutely no other option.

people with significant anxiety disorders should take advise from their own doctors, not randoms on the internet. Anxiety isnt one thing, it affects everyone differently and actually for some people trying to build up their tolerance might make things much worse. I dont believe either that a health condition should mean you are banned from shops. Thats discrimination.

We are told to assume we have Covid and act accordingly- do people really want to be responsible for spreading it around?

if that were really the case, nobody would be working, nobody would be shopping etc. Op isnt responsible for spreading it around, and as long as she is sanitizing and distancing, she is doing her bit.

Mask wearer don't want their family members to become seriously ill or die as a result of non-mask wearers, it's quite simple really

what a ridiculous statement.

Let me know when you can pinpoint exactly how and where someone catches this, and how you know its a direct result of non mask wearing wont you.

Raisin’s post was perfectly reasonable. If you can’t wear a mask for genuine reasons, contact your local Coronakindess voluntary group and get volunteers to shop for you or try independent retailers (butchers, milkman, grocers) etc if you are struggling to get slots (although there are loads available from Coop, Corner Shops on apps like deliveroo, Uber eats etc, Iceland etc as well as the big names). I really don’t think it’s ok to feel you have the right to put the lives of other people at risk because you can’t wear a mask. Exhaust other avenues for getting the essentials. If you aren’t wearing a mask and you are in a public place then you do represent a risk to other people whether you like it or not.

I’ve relatives who are shielding and it took them months to get on the priority slot list. I’m not suggesting anything they didn’t have to do. They used the council organised voluntary organisations, the grocer in the neareast town, the milkman, a nationwide meat box service, Savers for toiletries, incontinence pads and cleaning supplies, ethical superstore online for store cupboard stuff. It can be done.

It’s a shame the OP hasn’t returned to the thread. There is a massive difference between a one off mild panic which this sounds like and someone who has debilitating anxiety. To try to compare the two just doesn’t work and it’s people who use “feeling a bit anxious” as an excuse who make it so much harder for those who really can’t wear one.

I really don’t think it’s ok to feel you have the right to put the lives of other people at risk because you can’t wear a mask

yeah, i mean people with disabilities dont deserve the same rights as everyone else do they?

FFS. This is discrimination, plain and simple. Its digusting how up front people are about how they are happy to create an underclass of people who are not allowed out into society because of their health conditions.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I'm disgusted with your attitude and you call yourself a doctor? You should be ashamed of yourself!

It was a perfectly reasonable post, I am disgusted with you for being so very self righteous.

It was a perfectly reasonable post. Someone who is firefighting this crap, which frankly must be bloody traumatising would understandably rapidly lose patience with people who refuse to do their bit. I don't and I've lost patience.

SHE’S NOT!!! A DOCTOR!!! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I'm sure the some of the posters here have never experienced the very real and crippling horror that is a panic attack, or they wouldn't be so dismissive. I do think it's everyone's responsibility to do their best though and work on managing this anxiety if they can. @DuzzyFuck has an excellent suggestion.

I agree with Gamerchick.

Fighting Covid on the frontline must be horrifying and traumatic. Someone who can’t wear a mask must seem a bit.... trivial? Not much sympathy for a stressed out traumatised doctor on here.