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?

Besides, there are genuine alternatives for the majority of people who find masks so utterly unbearable. The main issue IMO is that most people just don’t want the awkwardness and hassle of asking friends/neighbours/family to shop for them or having to investigate charitable schemes. But really this is what they should do if the alternative may end up costing somebody their life.

People think it’s statistically unlikely that anybody will die from them not wearing a mask, but the problem is that there and tens of thousands of people who think like this.

@LizDiz, as I said, doing normal things like shopping and seeing other humans is an important part of her recovery. As advised by her psychiatrist.

Until you’ve untied curtains from your child’s neck, pulled them out of a window, or watched them have multiple psychotic episodes, you might not understand.

We will keep going grocery shopping, because we are clinging on to the tiny bits of normality that are just about keeping her head above water at the moment.

I won’t risk my daughter becoming suicidal again? Why is her life less important?

We will keep going grocery shopping, because we are clinging on to the tiny bits of normality that are just about keeping her head above water at the moment.

I won’t risk my daughter becoming suicidal again? Why is her life less important?

It’s not about her life being less important, it’s about the fact that nobody else should have their life endangered for her benefit. I care more for my own children than your daughter and that’s the honest truth.

The vast majority of people who don’t wear masks would probably not starve to death if it was declared tomorrow that you couldn’t enter shops without one. Most would find a way to get by as survival instincts are pretty strong.

@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.

This

Well its a quick trip to the farm shop twice a week that is keeping her out of a hospital bed for months again, or worse.

She’s better at socially distancing than most and obsessive about hygiene. She doesn’t go to school. Or anywhere else.

So it’s the most reasonable balance of risks I can come up with. To keep my daughter alive and think of others’ safety too.

@OrangeSamphire

Well its a quick trip to the farm shop twice a week that is keeping her out of a hospital bed for months again, or worse.

She’s better at socially distancing than most and obsessive about hygiene. She doesn’t go to school. Or anywhere else.

So it’s the most reasonable balance of risks I can come up with. To keep my daughter alive and think of others’ safety too.

I’m not really talking so much about situations like yours as tbh I’d probably do the same.

I firmly believe that a lot of people with ‘sensory issues’ could get used to it if they really had to. I’ve got a colleague who doesn’t wear a mask for this reason. She’s always been a bit ‘difficult’ and a source of office drama. Constantly going on that she can’t eat non-organic food because she can ‘feel the chemicals in her’ and getting into a row with another colleague who put a sealed curry next to her sandwiches in the fridge (reckons she could taste it in her sandwich).

She makes a big song and dance about not being able to wear a mask but tbh I think she is just a drama queen who is used to getting her own way through dramatics and needs to be told no.

Orange. My issue with a lot of non mask wearers is they make things so much harder for the likes of your daughter who have very geneuine reasons they need reasonable adjustment made

Are people with mask anxieties also unable to wear warm scarves around their faces, not even on chilly days?

There are genuine alternatives for the majority of people who find masks so utterly unbearable. The main issue IMO is that most people just don’t want the awkwardness and hassle of asking friends/neighbours/family to shop for them or having to investigate charitable schemes. But really this is what they should do if the alternative may end up costing somebody their life.

Absolutely right. And I do think there is an element of 'I am special, wht should I have to stay indoors when you don't have to?'

But that is not a very responsible or civic minded attitude under the current circumstances.

All has been said but I have a family member (child) with very complex needs, also sensory, he wears his mask indoors and outdoors although he doesn't go out much.

In short YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL. either wear a face covering (mask or something else) and cover your nose properly too or stay home.

I really shouldn't have read this thread as I am now absolutely infuriated.

@LAgeDeRaisin, I really really hope that your post which you bothered to type when you probably have so much more to do will make posters think.

Sadly, many will still refuse to think further then their door and just don't care at the consequences of their choices as long as they are even a bit more ok.

This lack of sense of responsibility for others is often part of why people are depressed, anxious, stressed because inevitably they struggle to make friends.

It's so easy to ignore the scale of the issue and convince yourself that you couldn't possibly have anything to do with it.

saying that someone should not have the same rights as everyone else because they have a health condition, absolutely IS disability discrimination.

It's discrimination to say that a disabled person MUST wear a mask when they cannot.

It is not discrimination to say that people without masks cannot enter public spaces, putting themselves and others at risk.

It's reasonable not to wear it if it causes you panic attacks. This is in the law. You don't need to ask people on Mumsnet. half of whom will just be mean about it because they want a scapegoat for the spread of covid.

Its reasonable to expect someone who can't wear a mask to not be selfish and go in a shop.

Well I’ve just seen that the tit that is Laurence Fox has done this... making it so much harder for the people with genuine reasons for being unable to wear a mask.

What an absolute arsehole.

He has highlighted how ridiculous the situation is. Which is good.

OrangeSamphire

Well I’ve just seen that the tit that is Laurence Fox has done this... making it so much harder for the people with genuine reasons for being unable to wear a mask.

What an absolute arsehole“

Indeed, repugnant man.

That is why shops were originally supposed to hand them out. They have the shops name on them. My lanyard is from mccolls. It bothers me immensely that anyone can get one.
It means that, yet again, those of us who do have the right to use one are penalised.

What are you actually arguing? You care more about your children than anyone else? Ok fine, but anyone could say this about anything and it puts us back in that ‘I’m alright Jack’ mindset. I don’t understand your point at all!

Sorry was meant to have quoted @GodOfPhwoar

I think those that can't wear a mask should have priority for delivery of food and stay in until this is over. It's not a gif given right to infect others because you can't wear a mask.
Society is based on the greater good and an example such as anxiety should lead to shops and such accommodating non mask wearers but at the same time not allow non mask wearers to strip the rights of others to have the extra protection available from people wearing masks.
I can wear a mask, I haven't left my home since early December when our dc school shut. Have had food deliveries and everything else delivered. I don't know why this isn't possible for people who can't wear a mask tbh, especially now we're in lockdown and it's completely minimal what problem you would cause.

Really should not have read this thread.
To all thouse with anxiety around wearing masks. I ask one question. Is your anxiety greater than my complete and utter panic right now. My husband is in our room battling with Covid. He is just about hanging in there but I dread him needing to go to hospital. Will there be an intensive care bed left?.
For your information both me and my husband have been working in full PPE for months. I agree it's not easy to wear. But it is to protect others.
I would gladly shop for someone who cant wear a mask. But obviously cant leave my house for 10 days.funnily think I can manage without Mark's and Spencer.
I really appreciate that we all need some normality in our lives. I have not seen anyone apart from my household and work colleaques since March.
Come on all we are so near the end let's try to all do our bit. Also let's try to be kind and appreciate our individual concerns are different but we need to put them to one side.
Also think about the larger impacts of my husbands covid. We now have 2 workplaces who were already overstretched having to cover our shifts. My Son is a teacher and is able to work from home but was scheduled to be teaching critical workers children. I was due to do some extra shifts vaccinating so maybe less people will be vaccinated.
All this because you cant wear a mask for a few minutes.
Sorry to sound sanctimonious
But am so disappointed as we have come so close I've had my first vacine and hubbie was due his next week. I have seen to much heartache from this terrible illness

Glitterwobbles👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I find mask wearing difficult so I don't go to places that need them or pop in very quickly with a mask on for the shortest amount of time.
I have found the more I do quick short mask wearing the easier it has become

"I don't know why this isn't possible for people who can't wear a mask tbh, especially now we're in lockdown and it's completely minimal what problem you would cause."

Your choice never to leave the house at all but no one should be expected to never leave the house because they cannot wear a mask.

I hope people who are telling others not to go to places without masks are not hypocriticaly taking their own children to places without masks on especially children older than toddlers.