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?

@Bookworming doesn't matter. A mild panic attack can easily become much worse if not dealt with - the OP dealt with it by removing her mask. Hardly crime of the century.

More fucking hyperbole, it's so fucking tedious! We've been wearing masks for weeks now, she's only just realised?

You do realise that mild panic attacks meaning people don't wear masks, just looks like every other person has an "issue" means that genuine severe anxiety sufferers get a hard time?

OP still not been back?

I had a panic attack in boots from wearing a mask. I ripped it off and was spectacularly and violently sick all over their counter. They haven't hassled me about wearing one since.

How often are you visiting Boots then?

I hate them - my glasses steam up - can't see & I am ( mildly - I admit - claustrophobic ) but I do it. Sorry if I sound harsh but I think there are very few people who can't get round a supermarket shop without wearing a mask. If your anxiety is so acute - then yes - home delivery & either on line therapy or a Dr's appointment .

I do apologise if I sound harsh - but - if you really have an acute condition - that is different

If not go out and just get basics before delivery can be done - that would be quicker

That said - all best to you - these times aren't great @balihai550

@TrustTheGeneGenie

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.

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?

She was saying that her anxiety, which is about people losing their lives from a disease (which is preventable, if (among other things) people adhere to certain precautions) is more important than someone having a 'mild panic attack'- honestly I agree.

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.

I spent time (as a patient) in an ward for people with a variety of anxiety disorders and a lot of the therapy involves facing fears in a hierarchy- so for example you would start with wearing a mask at home for short periods and then gradually work up to wearing it more often and at the supermarket. In the meantime you would not behave in a way that put others at risk. OP hasn’t indicated that she has a significant mental/anxiety disorder though (Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder can definitely be significant and disabling disorders but everyone is claiming to have mild panic attacks about masks at the moment).

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.

Not everyone has Covid but a significant proportion of the population do- in some areas of London it's 1/20 and of those 1/3rd (so 1/60) has no symptoms. This means that some of the mask non-wearers have it too, which means that they are spreading it by breathing droplets. It can be spread by hand/surface contact but you're much more likely to catch it from people breathing/coughing near you.

I do sympathise and dont like wearing them myself. At the beginning of all this I thought it was fair enough not to wear one if you have anxiety.

Now that we are a year into it and the death toll is rising hideously I've changed my opinion.

There are very few people who arent able to get their shopping online or delivered. Where I live we are lucky to have a compassionate communities hub which will arrange someone to shop for you if you are unable to do so

Something has to give here so unfortunately you are being unreasonable. You would indeed experience more anxiety under an oxygen mask as previous posters have said.

Sorry.

I have (diagnosed) anxiety. I suffer from panic attacks. I hate wearing a mask but I wear one. I feel I have a responsibility to do so for the people that CANNOT wear a mask. No one enjoys them.

Asda usually has lots of click and collect slots: you don’t need to go inside or wear a mask when you collect. We didn’t used to shop there before all this, but it’s been brilliant.

If you check ahead weekly, you can usually get a deliver too, if you don’t mind paying. You’ll still save on Sainsbury’s/Waitrose prices. The delivery people have been excellent.

Seeing people without masks gives me anxiety now but we are where we are.

@Bookworming hardly an exaggeration- the OP felt like she was having a panic attack so removed her mask is a fairly accurate description of what happened.

@sunsetorange a mild panic attack, once in how long (how long have we been wearing masks) is no excuse for not wearing one again.

I've had times on the tube, that I've felt "mildly panicked", no way would I stop wearing one. So next time, I decide that's it, I'm not wearing it again?

It's not a reason to stop, it also is really derogatory to extreme anxiety sufferers who have tried many times and failed and genuinely can't wear a mask.

But hey, she shops in m&s, so she must be above the rest of the minions and unhygienic that should wear masks.

How you can say "just don't try again" and not as it was a mild panic attack, it would be worth trying x or y is behind me!

Beyond not behind

I have anxiety and I've really had to work through it which is why i try not to go to shops unless absolutely essential & when it is i wear a mask for everyone's safety and my own. It's difficult but when you factor in how many people suffer from anxiety we cannot all not wear a mask. I'm more anxious about catching covid than the mask itself but i force myself to wear it because the thought of dying or causing someone else's death is at the fore front of my mind.

Just think of how many keyworkers have anxiety but they still mask up and work as they have no choice. It's something we have all got to get used to as this horrid disease is going to be around for a very long time yet unfortunately. Try getting more online shopping and use deliveroo etc for small bits if you really can't wear a mask. Think of how essential it is to you every time you need to shop and only go when you really really have to and get out quick then it will limit the build up to any panic attacks.

Actually, I think it's completely reasonable. Buy one of those flower lanyards things that people who are exempt from wearing masks wear.
It's no ones business and if people challenge you say it's due to an unseen disability and you don't need to disclose it.

100% this

I understand I had great difficulty at the beginning. Have you tried wearing one and just popping in for one thing? Breathing through your nose rather than your mouth helps and chewing gum really helped.

@Gilda152

Seeing people without masks gives me anxiety now but we are where we are.

Really ? Jesus I find that so sad. How will you cope once the masks are off, do you think your anxiety will continue forever?

Having a 'mild panic attack' and removing your mask and carrying on shopping is not experiencing a panic attack. As said before, there is a difference between feeling anxious and uncomfortable, which are normal emotions and suffering from extreme anxiety.

YABU. Why are you going out if you feel so anxious?

It’s mind over matter I’m
Afraid. My colleagues and I feel
Uncomfortable in them on long shifts. I get shallow breathing and flustered. In the first lock down I didn’t feel so bothered by it , now I think wear a mask and get a grip. It should be a short trip to a supermarket

I think it's a good enough reason. However, maybe you could to speak to a therapist to try and reduce the anxiety they cause you.

"It’s mind over matter"
"Get a grip"

If only that worked as a way to cure mental illness. 👏🏼

Your ignorance is unbelievable. I hope I never have to meet the sort of sanctimonious arseholes on this thread in real life.

It's difficult I can normally wear masks but had a different one that fogged up my glasses. I was in tesco and started to get really breathless and panicky. I don't have anxiety and it was an awful experience. I was lucky that I was in a position to cut the shopping trip short, leave and could remove the mask once I was outside and away from people. I've worn a mask hundreds of times since and never had the same experience but it did help me understand why people have real difficulty with them.

I would say not all masks are created equal and anyone who finds this should try alternatives. I think it was the fact it was fogging up my glasses so I couldn't see as well, a little bit of metal/ wire around the nose is a great fix.

At the end of the day everyone who can were a mask and that will help protect the few among us who genuinely can't. If you dislike them or find them uncomfortable that's not reason enough, if it honestly causes a full on panic attack or you struggle to breath then of course you should be exempt. We do have a responsibility to each other, we just need to trust/ look out for eachother.

@Alonelonelyloner

Ok *@sunsetorange* yes, true, but as someone who has seen not a single German for 10 months not wear a mask and see constant reports of British people and see videos of people in the UK not wearing masks on a daily basis. It's a fair assumption that either Britons suffer from a strange kind of 'anxiety' or they can't bloody be bothered, on a more frequent basis, to wear masks.

Ergo, it's a British anxiety. Because if mask wearing induced generalised anxiety then I'd see it all the damn time. And I've not seen it even once.

Honestly I think a lot of people who have never had anxiety issues before and certainly don't have significant and diagnosed anxiety disorders have suddenly developed mask-specific-anxiety in the UK- it's ridiculous.

There might be a minority with things like PTSD who genuinely cannot but then they should be allotted priority provision for things like home delivery/click and collect.

OP I hope you’re ok. I suggest you try some different types to help with the anxiety. My first ‘mask’ was suffocating I genuinely couldn’t get enough air, but then I found a pull up layered lycra snood on Amazon and that is great. I also got a layered muslim style face veil from Amazon and tuck the bottom half of it into my jumper, it looks like a mask but feels much less claustrophobic as it has a nice ‘floaty’ feeling.

Utterly appalled at some of the comments calling posters “ableist”. The fact some people cannot (or, more often, will not) wear a mask does not give them a right to endanger other’s lives.

And to the armchair lawyers and other morons suggesting the law gives you a “right” to enter shops or other premises without a mask if you have “reasonable excuse”, it doesn’t. It merely means that doing so isn’t a criminal offence. Having a legal right to do so is an entirely separate matter, not covered in any of the current legislation.

@novemberrain2 trigeminal neuralgia does