What masks are you wearing as I’m struggling with mine

[CodexDevinchi]

I’m pathetically embarrassingly claustrophobic. Can’t do lifts, cars have to have windows open, crying stuck in a canoe in a tight cave in Mexico, cannot go in cellars , cannot have bed clothes near my mouths or scarfs ect.. It’s ridiculous I know but I need to find a super light masks otherwise I can’t go in shops ect..

The ones I’ve ordered are washable ones but I feel like I’ve got a gusset over my mouth, it’s like stretchy material, I tried walking around the house with it on but lasted less than a minute before I was panting 🙈

Which ones do you think are best?

Would the disposable ones be better?

I agree, the disposable ones are very light.

As others have said, try the surgical type masks instead.

I've got quite a few washable ones, as I was thinking of the environment. However, I have asthma and although good at first, I found after a few washes, I couldn't breathe as well after a while. So, I have gone back to using the surgical masks instead. Much lighter and better for my asthma (and better on hot days too). 😊

Morrison's ones, so light and comfortable.

OK, I have this problem too, so watching with interest

Make sure you are nose breathing rather than mouth breathing - it really does help.

I wear mine really baggy. It probably doesn't work as a mask but gets around the having to wear one situation in shops etc.

I have some handy bands from seasalt. Very lose just pull them up when needed. I can't think for one second that they would work as a mask but they work to tick the box to cover my face. I basically never go shopping as I loathed it before all this and now i wouldn't bother at all other than the food shop. So it's for that and medical appointments. If the hospital wanted me to wear something slightly more useful I would do but they also don't seem to care, there's no one else there

Yes, agree about Seasalt Handybands which you just pull up over your nose and mouth, DH uses his running buff which is similar, I also bought 100 cheap disposable masks from Amazon as they are light to wear when it’s hot.

Tha is for replying! Yes I got the washable ones so I didn’t have to keep throwing the disposable ones in the bin. Bit looks like they are the only ones that will probably work for me.

Shall go to Morrison’s and look at their disposable ones and look at handybands 👍

Those stretchy ones make me feel claustrophobic just looking at them! I have pleated cotton ones. I found the disposable ones felt like they weren't letting any air through. I got mine from etsy - there's millions on there.

My glasses fogged up after a very short time but now understand that you should wear them over your glasses.

Thanks for the handybands tip. Hopefully they won't steam my glasses up, which means I can go shopping.

@HappydaysArehere

My glasses fogged up after a very short time but now understand that you should wear them over your glasses.

Do you mean under?

Tried tucking the mask under glasses, but this impacted my field of vision.

Cleaning glasses with washing-up liquid will help with steaming up.

www.swimcell.com/collections/all/products/cotton-face-mask?variant=32115579387970

These are quite roomy and comfy. Tesco also sells packs of disposables.

I'm claustrophobic aswell, I'm not too bad in lifts but the masks are causing me problems even just seeing other people wearing them makes me feel suffocated. I had to cover my face for the dentists and even though i struggled with it a loose bandana i managed with. I've been thinking about what could be causing my mask problems and I think it might be from having multiple tooth extractions in the 80s and having the gas mask held over my face as I found that quite traumatic and can still vividly remember it.

If you Google stylish masks there's a silk one by the people who make the pillowcases. It's expensive but I bet it's soft, light and comfortable.

I bought a couple of handy bands and they are good but a bit stifling in hot weather. Have ordered some Seasalt masks now. The reviews were much better than Boden's.

I found home made masks made from an old stretchy (not sure if it is light jersey or polyester) work well. It's really big so goes completely under my chin and is big enough to tuck under glasses. I found I couldn't breathe with ones made from a cotton shirt and hate the way the disposable ones feel.

Another option is just using a very light/thin scarf tied around your face, but hanging loose around your mouth and neck if you know what I mean? Its still a 'face covering'. Not a heavy winter scarf, but a light, handkerchief material one.

If nothing else, it might get you used to having something on your face. Like wearing a bra the 1st time, wear glasses or contact lenses, wearing heels, it takes time to get used to these things. Face masks are exactly the same. Unless you are a health professional or live in a country where its the norm, its uncommon for most of us to be used to wearing them.

Have you ever had counselling or aversion therapy for your claustrophobia? My nan suffered terribly after being stuck in a lift 60yrs ago, but still cant go in a lift or sleep with closed windows! A friend had treatment and thought it was the best thing ever! Might be worth a try.

I use a stretchy mask I bought on ebay. It's designed more for sun protection so not really thick enough for protection, but I'm just using it to be able to use public transport etc. I cut out the inner layer so that it's just a single layer, and wear it loosely, which makes it much easier to breathe.

I struggle as well because I have a really small face, and all masks are too big for me.