To feel really shit about how people judged me for no mask.

[DidSheReallySayThat20]

For the record. I've previously tried wearing a mask until today. I have ptsd relating to being suffocated in a DV relationship. I spent years in therapy and on meds to cope daily.
The last few times I've come over funny and feeling like I'm goi g to have a panic attack which I haven't had one in 4 years.
I also suffer with anxiety shopping in a store where I don't normally shop.

The gp said I do not need to wear a mask and I have valid reason for exemption

Today shopping two different sets of people were vocal about it.. One was a mutter I could barely catch but I heard.. that's 4 no masks today and continued out of ear shot

I kept my head down I felt awful. Then a couple said excuse me, you are aware of the rules or Are you another young one who thinks they're above the law.. I ignored them. I wish I'd come back with a reply now.
Only ' good' thing was being called young at nr 40.

Its been on my mind since and I honestly have tried but the anxiety and stress they caused and thinking about it days up to shopping day and after wearing one I woild of ended up back on anti depressants because it affected me so badly.

Just wear a lanyard - this is not the hill to die on!

People who cannot wear masks should make extra effort to protect others. If one has a spouse capable of doing the truly necessary shopping, why go out at all and put others at risk?

Because people are allowed to leave their homes and go to shops. Despite the desire of people like you to sit on their backsides and have people run about after them, some people wish to carry out their own every day activities. This is perfectly legitimate. Some people do not have a spouse or partner. So as well as quizzing them about their health are people to expect to be grilled about their private lives as well?

You clearly don’t know what the point of public health measures is. You or me or anyone else as individuals does not have the right or expectation not to get the virus off anyone else. It’s about reducing the number of overall infections. As with other measures it just needs ENOUGH people to comply to be effective. Same as lockdown, vaccination etc.

Further, hardly anyone has it at the moment anyway. The chances of someone who is being abused for not wearing a mask having their virus in the first place is one in several thousand.

@Aridane

Just wear a lanyard - this is not the hill to die on!

But people on here have also made snide comments that people are just getting these as an excuse not to wear a mask when there’s nothing wrong with them.

Further, hardly anyone has it at the moment anyway. Well that's alright then

@derxa

Further, hardly anyone has it at the moment anyway. Well that's alright then

The point is that people think it’s alright to abuse disabled people and strangers for something they probably don’t have. I don’t think that’s OK.

*I think masks are generally a good idea for situations where it's difficult to socially distance but I'm now at the point where I think the regs that make them mandatory should be scrapped altogether.

The amount of nastiness and discrimination that has resulted is just not worth the small, potential reduction in risk.

Making them voluntary again, coupled with a clear, honest public health messaging campaign, would also take a lot of heat out of the conspiracy theorists' anti-'muzzle' agenda (some of which I think is also driven by mental health issues)*

Hear hear @LangClegsInSpace

As OTT as this may sound I am still boiling with rage 4 hours after my daughter was asked “where’s your mask, lovie” in Sainsburys by some (on the face of it lovely but) arsehole who evidently didn’t believe me when I said “my daughter is 4”

Mask wearing up here is mandated for the age 5+.

OP, ive not been through anything like what you’ve been though but I find the covering of my nose and mouth raises my heart rate and makes me start with the “fight or flee” feeling, it’s weird and I never expected to feel that way.

With your history you have every right to go mask free and not a single person ought to feel its their right to challenge you on that.

This pandemic really has brought a toxic outbreak of arseholeness.

I fully sympathise. I suffer with anxiety and panic attacks and supermarkets have always been a trigger for me, even before Covid. I tried with a mask and had to remove it because I could feel the beginnings of a panic attack, and the judgemental stares and comments were almost enough to trigger another one.

The best one I've read so far is:
"No mask?"
"Nope, no knickers either!" (Said with a grin).

Just wish I was brave enough to use it!

I do wear a mask as I have followed all the rules and am not exempt but I am highly sceptical as to their efficacy given every country that’s wearing them seems to be having a marked jump in cases.

People thinking it’s OK to abuse disabled or vulnerable people and pry into their business over nothing more than pointless tokenistic shit. What a time to be alive. What a number the government have done on us all.

Thing is if I’m in a shop and see someone not wearing a mask I’m at the same level of risk as anyone else from them. The difference is I don’t feel it’s my business to question why they aren’t wearing one. I am also vulnerable and suffer from anxiety, fwiw. If I can manage not to act like an interfering busybody, I’m sure everyone else can too. Thinking the best of people instead of being a judgmental twat - it’s actually quite easy, maybe some of the arseholes on this thread could try it.

The point is that people think it’s alright to abuse disabled people and strangers for something they probably don’t have. I don’t think that’s OK. It's either policy or it's not. I don't abuse anyone but I would give a non mask wearer a wide berth. I think non mask wearing is an anti social act. Other countries have been wearing masks for years without turning a hair.

Anxiety doesn't put others at risk. Going out unmasked does. See the difference there?

Not really because the vast majority of Shop or cafe/restaurant staff aren’t wearing masks either, so a few people with exemptions isn’t going to make any difference. I can’t see how a passing by a couple of people with exemptions is more anxiety inducing that being in a shop full of unmasked staff.

This is just people wanting to use their own stress and anxiety to control others or to be rude to others to take their minds of themselves for a little while.

It really would be a much nicer world if everyone just gave everyone else the benefit of the doubt, or at least realised that whatever they’re feeling, they have no right to be rude to others in public.

*I would give a non mask wearer a wide berth. I think non mask wearing is an anti social act.+

I give everyone a wide berth regardless. Masks are not a substitute for social distancing and we should still be doing that anyway. I don’t think not wearing a mask is anti social, but then I don’t think a daft bit of damp cloth of dubious cleanliness over someone’s face is any kind of magic bullet to resolving the pandemic anyway.

As for “other countries” who cares? Plenty of “other countries” engage in practices we don’t have here. Doesn’t make them better than us, it’s just a different culture. We’re in this pickle in the first place due to “other counties” and their practices.

I think non mask wearing is an anti social act.

So me not wearing a mask in a shop is antisocial, even though I physically can't wear one? And I don't have any lung condition, ptsd or anything else like that.

I can assure you if I put one on in a shop, the result would be extremely unpleasant for anyone to see, perhaps antisocial, judging by the use of that word on here, I'm sure it would be. It wouldn't do me an awful lot of good either.

"Other countries have been wearing masks for years without turning a hair."

Other countries have been locking disabled people away for years and the general population think it is shameful for them to be out in public.

@Spikeyball

"Other countries have been wearing masks for years without turning a hair."

Other countries have been locking disabled people away for years and the general population think it is shameful for them to be out in public.

And some posters in those countries post about the lack of compassion for disabled people on here as if it’s something to be proud of. Nasty.

Other countries have been locking disabled people away for years and the general population think it is shameful for them to be out in public. Where is this? And what's it got to do with UK citizens having to wear masks in shops?

Jesus Christ, it's about time a few in this god forsaken hole of a country got some backbone.

@PhilCornwall1 reading some of these posts they need a heart as well!

Well it’s Certainly showing everyone who the vile people are In society, with their attitude towards people with disabilities and conditions exempt from mask wearing.

It was only a few months ago that people were helping those with disabilities, now they have nothing but hate and disgust towards them.

And a lovely prime minister we seem to have who is doing nothing to stop the huge divide that has happened.

And a lovely prime minister we seem to have who is doing nothing to stop the huge divide that has happened.

Now he does piss me off a lot more than people having a pop at me for being maskless.

@derxa

Other countries have been locking disabled people away for years and the general population think it is shameful for them to be out in public. Where is this? And what's it got to do with UK citizens having to wear masks in shops?

I suppose the point is because “other countries” do something doesn’t mean it’s something we should emulate here.

Wearing a mask isn’t about being “considerate”. It’s about following rules. When I wear a mask I do it because I have to. Nothing more.

The virus doesn't care about "feelings " or supposedly extenuating circumstances.

The virus doesn’t care about anything because - it’s a virus!

"Where is this? And what's it got to do with UK citizens having to wear masks in shops?"

It has to do with your praise of other countries and mask wearing. If in a country everyone out is wearing a mask it means that some people aren't being allowed out.

As for where - do some research about the treatment of severely disabled people in some countries.