Relative is struggling with wearing a mask due to trauma in childhood/adulthood including rape and suffocation . Also suspected to be on autistic spectrum .
We have tried light cloth masks, shop bought, homemade, surgical, single layer cheap ones from shops, scarves, all sorts - even suggested a visor - but she can’t cope with it and won’t wear them . She’s been offered a sunflower thing to show but worried she will be verbally abused if she goes out .
She lives alone, in a tiny village, struggles with the internet and online shopping and will need to start travelling soon for therapy stuff and support groups . Also to pick up her meds from chemist and access healthcare . Would involve a bus or taxi . She’d also like to be able to visit family again .
Is there specific support or advice out there that I’m maybe missing ? Her MH team are saying just leave the mask off, don’t worry about it and carry on as normal/social distancing but opinion on here/social media suggests that’s not acceptable to others at all . Local FB groups saying any non mask wearers should be made very unwelcome and to feel ashamed . She finds going out very frightening anyway on a normal day so anything we can do to make it easier - at the moment others doing shopping and stuff ... !!