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?

Sorry to hear about your husband @glitterwobbles. Agree with everything you say.

Those lanyards should only be used by a very tiny minority of people,and only if they have no choice but to go in the shop. Shopping should not be a day trip at the moment.

Thankyou @ LizDiz. My Daughters swab has also come back positive so rank up the anxiety. Hobbies temp is 39 a little more anxiety.
All we need now is for my son and I to be unwell.
Masks will of course be optional for anyone who cares for us as I wouldn't want them to be anxious.
Remember you wear a mask to protect others. I feel exhausted by it all. I have my best and will continue to do so once we are out of isolation.
Hopefully in the next 2 weeks we will all be back to work

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!

My point is that nobody else has the right to put my children's lives at risk, full stop.

You're quite right that anybody could say this, which is why it's better that nobody has the right to circumvent the safety recommendation for their 'own special reasons'.

No, people just aren’t prepared to put their loved ones lives at risk for the mental health of strangers. You could be getting tortured to death with red hot pokers and I’m still not going to put my children’s lives at risk to save you.

I hope then that you are supporting the closure of schools? After all you cant put teachers lives at risk for your children's mental health or education.

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

It can be 10 below and I still can't tolerate a scarf. Or a hat. Nothing touching my face or head. Period. Cant even have a coat with a stiff collar that touches my face. No turtle neck jumpers either. I basically have to layer long sleeved t shirts, cardigans, autumn type coats that don't have collars or hoods.

@glitterwobbles

Thankyou @ LizDiz. My Daughters swab has also come back positive so rank up the anxiety. Hobbies temp is 39 a little more anxiety. All we need now is for my son and I to be unwell. Masks will of course be optional for anyone who cares for us as I wouldn't want them to be anxious. Remember you wear a mask to protect others. I feel exhausted by it all. I have my best and will continue to do so once we are out of isolation. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks we will all be back to work

Oh no, you poor thing. I hope that things improve for your family and that you DH and DD are better really soon.

@Sockwomble

"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.

I can't go to the shops because of my condition. I can wear a mask and would if I could go into shops. I have someone shop for me but if I couldn't then I would absolutely have to order for delivery- whether from a big supermarket or from a local shop/voluntary organization.

I understand that some physical and psychiatric (PTSD and others included) conditions make mask wearing impossible; but that that also makes Covid transmission probable. I really believe that those that can't wear masks should not go to shops and should instead receive priority online food shops, just like the extremely vulnerable.

That's not to say 'never go out' but just don't frequent busy places indoors in the peak of a pandemic without adequate precautions.

A minority of people falsely claiming exemptions isn't a reason to direct hate towards those with genuine reasons they are unable to wear a mask. A few people abuse the benefits system, but not many would be in favour of scrapping it it entirely, as once that happens it's the most vulnerable in society who will suffer. Not everyone has family/friends/neighbours close by who can help with shopping.

Abuse and criminal behaviour doesn't stop because there's a pandemic going on. You're a doctor/nurse with anxiety working on a Covid ward and manage to wear a mask for a 12 hour shift yesterday, obviously that is an awesome achievement under extremely harrowing circumstances and I thank you for your hard work. But it's important to remember not everyone's experience is the same and not everyone is at the same point of recovery. Imagine if you were raped last week, live alone and it's taken you a week to get the strength to leave the house for basic supplies and someone lays into you for not wearing a mask. There's zero mental health support available due to the pandemic. But hey maybe they should just try a bit harder and at the very least make sure they wear a lanyard so people can judge them for faking an exception because every man and his dog can go online and order one.

A few months back people on here were screaming at people with mental health issues for taking up delivery slots as they were physically capable of walking into a shop, believing they are a 'precious resource' and should 'only go to people who are shielding'.

@pnkyinky

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.

Yes I agree.

disabilityrights.org.uk/first-face-mask-discrimination-case-nets-7-000

See the thing is. None of us have 'rights' atm. We're having our arses kicked by a microscopic bug. We all need to be aiming for the same goal and taking our licks for it.

The sooner we can get rid of the damned thing then this won't be an issue at all.

Totally agree gamerchick.

As usual, some people want everyone else to do the grunt work but don't to do any themselves.

@BoJoHoNo

A minority of people falsely claiming exemptions isn't a reason to direct hate towards those with genuine reasons they are unable to wear a mask. A few people abuse the benefits system, but not many would be in favour of scrapping it it entirely, as once that happens it's the most vulnerable in society who will suffer. Not everyone has family/friends/neighbours close by who can help with shopping.

Abuse and criminal behaviour doesn't stop because there's a pandemic going on. You're a doctor/nurse with anxiety working on a Covid ward and manage to wear a mask for a 12 hour shift yesterday, obviously that is an awesome achievement under extremely harrowing circumstances and I thank you for your hard work. But it's important to remember not everyone's experience is the same and not everyone is at the same point of recovery. Imagine if you were raped last week, live alone and it's taken you a week to get the strength to leave the house for basic supplies and someone lays into you for not wearing a mask. There's zero mental health support available due to the pandemic. But hey maybe they should just try a bit harder and at the very least make sure they wear a lanyard so people can judge them for faking an exception because every man and his dog can go online and order one.

A few months back people on here were screaming at people with mental health issues for taking up delivery slots as they were physically capable of walking into a shop, believing they are a 'precious resource' and should 'only go to people who are shielding'.

Couldn't agree more!

There'd soon be uproar if people who couldn't wear masks got priority delivery leading to them being even shorter than they are now .

Non-mask wearers aren't prisoners to confine to their houses, they haven't done anything wrong

No, anxiety is not a good enough excuse. If you 'feel' like you can't wear a mask, do not go out in public. Why should the whole world spin aroung you? I would make a simple rule, no mask, no service.

Also not everyone can afford the minimum for the shops.

I can't believe the small minded people on here.

@dadshere because that wouldn't get someone sued for discrimination

Since when did it become okay to discriminate against disabled people and ones with health conditions. Shocking.

Try a visor OP.

I'm technically exempt as my DD has communication issues so has to see you speaking as she lip reads (hearing issues as well), but I also have a heart condition, lung condition, asthma as well as anxiety and PTSD.

I wear a mask. I had to play around with masks in the house to find which style suited me better and found the foam and cloth ones felt like I was being strangled, I wear disposable ones and can manage those. I had to wear one for 7 hours in the hospital before Christmas due to DDs medical treatment and that was horrible, I will never again complain about wearing one in a shop.

I get it, it's horrible, but I'd say YABU and should find one that works.

@TheBlueElephant but OP may not suffer the same way as you do with anxiety. Same with people who have PTSD, how about someone who was raped with a hand over their mouth to stop them screaming and a mask reminds them of the attack giving them flashbacks. Not everyone with the same conditions suffers or deals with it tje same. People need to stop generalising.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Try a visor OP.

This is surely the best solution.

@GodOfPhwoar is it though? Visors don't provide protection, the government only recommend visors WITH masks.

Tbh, though, I'm starting to feel like the specifics are irrelevant. Too many ifs, but, and maybes.

Either you're putting other people's lives at risk or you're not.

Tbh, though, I'm starting to feel like the specifics are irrelevant. Too many ifs, but, and maybes. Either you're putting other people's lives at risk or you're not. Really? Are masks now the be all and end all in reducing transmission? I work with one person who can't wear a mask but is fastidious with keeping her distance, washing her hands and cleaning high traffic areas regularly during her shift. I have another colleague who does wear a mask but it doesn't look like he's ever washed it. His personal hygiene is poor and he often leaves used tissues all over the communal desk. Guess who I prefer to work with?