Mask is causing me so much anxiety

[Mummypig2020]

We went on a train yesterday and the minute I put the mask on I felt like I was having a panic attack and I couldn’t breathe. It was horrible! I had to keep lifting it up.

How the hell do you wear them for long periods?!

Try lots of different types. What about a silk scarf loosely round your face? Listen to music if read to distract yourself.

Do you have anxiety normally?

Yes, I suffer with bad anxiety and I have BPD.

I just felt like I was being suffocated.

Practice wearing it at home. It takes a bit of getting used to. Try different types if that one doesn't work for you.

I agree with trying different sorts of masks/scarfs and also practising at home wearing one for short periods and gradually build up the time.

It honestly does become easier the more you wear one. I think panicky feelings are quite common to start with, as your body and brain need to adjust to the reduced oxygen and find different ways of breathing.

Try a neck gaiter instead of an actual mask, looser and thinner and you can just pull it up as needed.

It's all psychological so just keep practising. It's a myth that a mask reduces oxygen levels

a) practice
b) try a different face covering rather than mask - how about a buff?

You really can acclimatise, stick with it, you're doing really well

I've tried a few and the best one I've found is the surgical type. It's one of the most effective and cheapest. It's the blue and white one with loops or strings. It seems easier to breath in them. I didn't like the heavy cloth ones at all.

I've also used a really thin cotton scarf which is ok too

It gets easier

If you have a condition that makes wearing a mask difficult physically or mentally you’re exempt. Not everyone is able to wear one and people need to understand there are exemptions for a reason, including mental health reasons.

I've never worn one out and about yet but tbh, I'm terrified.
I panic wearing chunky scarfs if they come up towards my mouth.
I've bought two different types of masks to try and I'm going to start wearing them around the house but honestly im so worried.
I also lip read and generally feel more anxious if I can't do that so I think I'm just going to completely panic when out and about

@Amicompletelyinsane psychological reasons for not being able to wear a mask are valid reasons

They're not pleasant but unfortunately we're going to have to get used to them or stay home (apart from the permitted exclusions). I hate them but can see them being around until there is a reliable vaccine. I think there's a psychological thing with wearing them too which can cause panic, but people I've spoken to who've been wearing them for work have said they're fine when you get used to them.

I agree with trying different types. I am used to wearing surgical masks and I found the cloth ones suffocating and unbearable. I wanted to used a reusable one for environmental reasons but am using the surgical ones now as they are better for me.
Definitely try the bandana types that skiers use.

On a well fitting mask you do need to breathe with slightly more pressure to push the air through. Unless you have lung problems, it's no problem, but takes a bit of adjustment and could cause you to panic if you didn't expect it.

Agree that you do need to try breathe more deeply. I think when you first start wearing them the tendency is to breath shallow and this can make you panicky. It helps to take deeper breaths

It's not a myth about reduced oxygen when you first start wearing a mask. That's what leads to panicky feelings.

OP, take it slowly and build up the time that you spend wearing one. Also, try breathing just through your nose at home (so not wearing a mask) when you remember. It feel very odd at first but if you persevere, it starts to feel strange when you resume breathing through your mouth.

If it causes you such distress to wear one then you can exempt from it. You can buy or print or download cards to explain this if you're frightened of getting challenged about it. The sunflower lanyard scheme people are also selling cards explaining mask exemption as well and the sunflower is relatively well recognised now.

Do not let the virtue signallers invalidate the feelings of distress and anxiety it's causing you - you have diagnosed conditions causing those and you do not HAVE to wear one as a result. Of course if you have anxiety among your diagnosis - then you're into that awful loop where you're anxious about being pulled up by a covigilantee about it all, and anxious about doing it... and it's generally shit.

It's not a reduction in oxygen, it's a difference in how it feels to breathe, and possibly a panicky feeling when it's first different.

There are lots of circumstances in which people wear face coverings for all sorts of reasons (surgeons, cycle couriers, skiers, military) and none of them get oxygen deprivation.

But they do take a bit of getting used to (esp full BCW kit!) and I think some of the worries are from people who are not allowing for the normal habituation time

I kept having to open it a bit to breathe while shopping the other day. It's compulsory in Scotland now. I found I did get a bit used to it after a while but every now and then still had to lift for a breather 🙈 I also wore my lenses glasses just steam up. I've heard all sorts of tips but most don't work especially if it's raining.

I don't think anyone's mentioned 'oxygen deprivation'. It's that the usual way of breathing needs to be adjusted when wearing a mask.

It's quite normal to feel a bit panicky when you first put one on - you need to get used to it.