Masks-sensory difficultly

[Ofti]

Is anyone else feeling this? Not just a ‘I don’t want to’, but a proper trigger of rising panic?

I’ve never liked breathing through anything, even in winter I’d never let my scarf creep up. It makes my face get warm, my breathing restrict. It’s an illogical response like I’m being smothered, but one I’ve never got over. I’ve tried round the house. I couldn’t focus on anything else with a mask on or re-focus from the panicky feeling. My heart rate goes high and I’m really stressed by it.

I’ve been pretty worried about the idea of mandatory masks.

Obviously this isn’t the norm, but can anyone else relate to this?

For the sake of disclosure, maybe if I was much younger I’d be queried for asd at school. It’s not my only sensory issue among other factors, 2 of my children have a diagnosis and I highly relate to them. Please don’t take the piss, I know it’s not the most common response but it genuine and I have tried to manage the feeling (my other big fear is stickers on my skin 😂. And if I can’t get over that still...). Is anyone else, even a bit, stressed by them? It would be great to feel less alone

Yes I have all sorts of sensory issues.

I tried quite a few masks before I found one I could cope with wearing. There are lots of different shapes and styles now. I’m best with the accordion type made with two layers of fine cotton.

They are mandatory where I live so I worked pretty hard at finding some I could bear.

You'd really hate a ventilator/Cpap machine or an oxygen mask then

You'd be wrong. A CPAP mask is vented and you can breath normally without heating up or feeling like you're suffocating. I'm like the Op, diagnosed autistic, and unable to have my face covered in winter or use a DIY face mask but I have no issues with the CPAP mask I have to use every night.

Having a bad day, apologies. Wear a mask, for the protection of others, or don't.

I’ve been pretty worried about the idea of mandatory masks.

There are exemptions in many countries for people where they have made them mandatory in public. A number of countries in western europe have now made them mandatory where it is difficult to social distance, mainly on public transport.

The thing is that if 80/90% of people wear them, then there will be some protection. So surely, if those of us who can wear them do, then people like those on this thread who can't, won't have to.

I don't have a problem with people who genuinely struggle; it's the "I won't, I don't want to, I don't see why I should" reaction that's annoying.

It's a bit like vaccination really. If those of us who can be vaccinated (or vaccinate our children) do, then those who can't for various reasons are protected by everyone else.

Do you have any of those conditions? @highmarkingsnowmobile

For example www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/dont-wear-mask-yourself/610336/ suggests that if 80% of people wear masks that are 60% effective, it helps keep the R0 down.

I know that's a blog. I read a scientific paper about it earlier but can't find it.

I did wear one but I don’t know if the fabric I used was too thick but it made me retch, touch my face loads, and the smell of the laundry detergent so close to my nose all the time was awful. I tried a buff too, not much better. No one else was wearing them so I have stopped bothering now.

My son has autism and sensory issues and he will not be wearing one. He’s been shat on enough and discriminated against on account of his disability over the years, no more.

I've not worked since second week of March, but on Friday I went to work. I had to wear a paper mask. It made me feel panicky and claustrophobic. But that wasn't the worst of it. It kept riding up further up my nose until I couldn't see anything if I looked down. I nearly fell on some stairs walking down. I won't be wearing one again. DH has been given a different type of mask that is more like a hard shell design with a valve. I'm going to try one of those. it doesn't move. Failing that I shall have to quit my job and become a hermit.....actually I'd like that

I work for the NHS in an admin type role usually but I've been redeployed to work on a ward and have to wear one. I didn't even realise until I was taken there and had a major panic about it, the first few times I felt like it was suffocating me, I hate anything over my face also. Luckily I'm in and out of the bays so have to ppe up and down very often and I'm more used to it now. I wear a mask for 10-20 mins and sometimes it feels ok and sometimes it makes me feel like I'm drowning, I find myself adjusting and pulling it away which I'm obviously not supposed to do. I wear it to protect the patients more than to protect me so that helps. I don't think it'll become mandatory to wear a mask to leave the house so I'm not worried about that. Also where would all these masks come from, I'd have no access to one without pinching one from work which I wouldn't so it can't become mandatory surely?!

God I hadn’t thought about people who have to lip read. That’s shit isn’t it?

I don't want to wear a mask because my asd 6 year old would absolutely freak out. And i don't like the feeling either. If you're under 70 and otherwise healthy, the chances of being hospitalised with it are negligible. Very little evidence the masks work as all they do is make you touch your face over and over when you otherwise wouldn't.

God I hadn’t thought about people who have to lip read. That’s shit isn’t it?

I imagine most people haven’t considered it @lemonjam it is awful, I feel confused and excluded .

Before any twat comes along and points out the obvious I am aware that confused and excluded is better than dead due to CV.
Just in case someone was tempted to tell me.

Do you have any of those conditions? @highmarkingsnowmobile**

I have PTSD, Jelly, and my son has ASD and OCD. Thanks for asking and such concern over people who have sensory difficulties and other conditions that make mask wearing not possible. We exist, too.

I have already stated that my son has ASD and OCD, but it doesn't fit with some peoples' MO to get personal and try to make digs. Believe me, we parents of those with special needs are well used to that, anyway.