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?

A doctor friend told me she could think of hardly any physical condition that would make it impossible to wear a face mask, certainly not for the short time it takes to shop. So in truth psychological things like anxiety and panic attacks probably account for most legitimate exemptions.

Doctors are too busy to write a letter for everyone who doesn't feel able to wear mask. In any case there is basically no way for them to diagnose a condition like anxiety except based on what a patient tells them about their feelings.

I was diagnosed with cancer in September. I have been through two biopsies, a guide wire insertion under local anaesthetic, a PICC line fitting under local anaesthetic, two operations and so far two chemo treatments, all while wearing a mask. (Obviously my mask was removed during the ops but I wore it all the way to theatre). I received my diagnosis alone, also wearing a mask, while my DH waited outside for me because he wasn't allowed in the hospital due to Covid.

I also suffer from anxiety, and as you can imagine, my anxiety in recent months has been pretty much through the roof. I do not enjoy wearing a mask at all - particularly during unpleasant medical procedures. But I do it because I want to protect myself and the amazing doctors and nurses who are doing everything they can to help me through cancer during a global pandemic.

I know it's not a competition about who suffers more, and I appreciate that everyone is different, but I think some perspective is needed. Please wear your mask in public, OP.

If someone has such strong panic / anxiety about wearing a mask and has nobody else to shop for them then there are many council schemes where people will shop for you .
If it is a true disability then you can register with these schemes
I genuinely do not see the drama /issue here.
If you can wear a mask then go shopping , if you can’t , stay at home !
( coming from a worker who has had multiple people in our store off sick with Covid and in our industry as a total who have died )

But if you want to carry on the non mask disclaimer to make you feel better then carry on to the detriment of the lowly retail workers ..,

“ They don't deliver, at least ours doesn't. And yes being smothered really is that traumatic when you're nine.”

Boots are supporting the nhs , have a word with them about delivering. I’m sure they would help you out .
If you are with a gp in England they do it online and deliver , if you have no-one to collect .
Sorry if you’ve already asked, but most pharmacies now are delivering for free .

@AlbertCampion

I was diagnosed with cancer in September. I have been through two biopsies, a guide wire insertion under local anaesthetic, a PICC line fitting under local anaesthetic, two operations and so far two chemo treatments, all while wearing a mask. (Obviously my mask was removed during the ops but I wore it all the way to theatre). I received my diagnosis alone, also wearing a mask, while my DH waited outside for me because he wasn't allowed in the hospital due to Covid.

I also suffer from anxiety, and as you can imagine, my anxiety in recent months has been pretty much through the roof. I do not enjoy wearing a mask at all - particularly during unpleasant medical procedures. But I do it because I want to protect myself and the amazing doctors and nurses who are doing everything they can to help me through cancer during a global pandemic.

I know it's not a competition about who suffers more, and I appreciate that everyone is different, but I think some perspective is needed. Please wear your mask in public, OP.

Thinking of you. That sounds like a hellish time that you've been through. I hope your treatment is going as well as it can.

I really don’t understand why people continue to argue this point. The guidelines are clear, if you can’t wear a mask YOU DONT HAVE TO. the end. People aren’t required to ‘try harder’ wherever that means, they are exempt.
Two of my children are exempt for very different reasons. They cannot wear them. End of discussion.

@AlbertCampion no it’s not a competition. So whilst I’m sorry for your situation and I hope you are getting better, your ability to wear the mask isn’t relevant to someone else’s inability to wear one.

@inlectorecumbit

Anyone and their brother can buy a sunflower mask. When l challenged a patient (GP surgery) why she was not wearing a mask and had a sunflower lanyard she said she didnt like wearing one so wouldn't- it was her choice So i said it was my choice to see her (non urgent appointment) as l was unwilling to put myself and colleagues at unnecessary risk. This is a policy we have now agreed to within the Practice setting

Wow, how rude of that patient. Good for you.

Having looked up about sunflower lanyards. I discovered that they came about in 2016, for the purpose of identifying someone with a hidden disability. They are supposed to be handed out by shops, so they have the shops name on them. I have one from mccolls.
So technically even if you have a sunflower lanyard, how legitimate is it without the shop name.
I also know someone who has a drawer full of lanyards given to him by various shops. He has 9 from Sainsbury's. When I asked why, he said you never know when you might need one. He does have shit eyesight and some form of learning disability though.

I’m the same. I just feel like I’m going to pass out. I panic and get really hot. I do wear It when I have to but I’ve basically stopped going out unless its absolutely vital And then I make it as quick as I possibly can.

No.

I’m genuinely sympathetic to those with MH issues, but when it comes down to it I don’t think they should be allowed to literally put the lives of others at risk. Especially now that we have a much more infectious variant spreading.

The issue IMO is that once people are told it’s ok not to wear one, many of them cease making any effort to adapt to it. If you really 100% can’t wear one then you should make alternative shopping arrangements IMO as it’s not other people that should suffer for your actions.

I mean, what if I’m so scared of driving that I need a few drinks to make me comfortable? I might not live within walking or delivery distance of the shops so surely the only option is to drink and drive. 🤷‍♀️

Totally agree God

If you feel you can't wear a mask that's fine, but stay away from the rest of us and behave like someone who needs to shield indoors. It's only fair.

apart from being out in wide open spaces, of course, that is fine.

I had a health emergency recently where my throat swelled up and I couldn't breathe - had to call an ambulance to A&E.

After that wearing a mask gave me a lot of anxiety feeling like I couldn't breathe.

What I would do is wear the mask but then go outside at intervals when I needed to take it off. Or just take it off for one breath and put it back on.

It's also worth finding a mask that is comfortable for you - there are thinner ones that might be less anxiety-provoking.

If you can't wear a mask, don't be selfish and go in a shop.

Why should your condition trump the health of shop workers and other customers?

If you genuinely can't get your shopping delivered, there are plenty of organisations that will help get your essentials to you.

It is not ablist or lacking empathy to want to stay safe when shopping or working.

You can go out for walks without a mask, it's not like you would be trapped in your house.

Please think of other people and the bigger picture.

"If you feel you can't wear a mask that's fine, but stay away from the rest of us and behave like someone who needs to shield indoors. It's only fair."

Do you think that should apply to everyone who cannot wear a mask whatever their age?

Not a good enough reason, I’m pregnant and wearing the mask makes me feel claustrophobic and dizzy after a while. I wear it though, it’s for the good of everyone.

Do you think that should apply to everyone who cannot wear a mask whatever their age?

Apart from children who are too young to understand that they must not pull them off, yes. If children can't go to school because they apparently are among the biggest carriers then I am afraid they must be treated the same as adults in this respect. If your child can't wear a mask then you need to do your shopping without your child. If you don't have childcare then you need to do your shopping online.

If masks stop us from catching and spreading the virus then people who don't wear masks for whatever reason should not be putting themselves in close proximity to others in public spaces. It's for their protection as well as everyone else's.

"Apart from children who are too young to understand that they must not pull them off, yes."

This group can still spread the virus. If keeping people out of shops is to stop the spread of the virus then surely this group needs to be banned too. My 15 year old doesn't understand that he must not pull it off. I wouldn't choose to take him in a shop unless I had no other choice anyway but why should young children be given different treatment.

Of course they can. We can't have a perfect foolproof situation where absolutely nobody ever puts anybody else at risk, including toddlers.

But we can focus on everyone exercising best practice given their own personal limitations. So people that can't wear masks should not go into shops if it can be helped. And adults with children who can't wear masks should not go into shops with their child if it can be helped, with the exception of babies and toddlers who are in buggies.

I did really struggle with this when they were first made a legal requirement, but my friend made me some with a seam running down the nose so you don’t inhale the fabric and I’ve been fine with them ever since. Could try some different masks?

If people are going to ban certain groups and not others they need to consider why they are banning certain groups and not others.

Unreasonable.

Medically exempt means you’ve been diagnosed with a medical condition that means you can’t wear a mask.

Also it doesn’t have to be a mask it can be a scarf.