✊Support thread for people who are exempt from wearing masks 😷

[ExemptFromMasksSupporter]

Hi everyone,

How about a support thread for people who are exempt from wearing masks/face coverings for whatever reason?

I am not exempt and I am able to wear a mask when required so I am lucky in that respect because I do not have to endure the abuse that some people who cannot wear a mask are enduring.

I have seen two threads today (I’m sure there are tons of others) where the OP’s are being lambasted for not being able to wear a mask.
On one thread the OP has a lung condition which causes her to cough sometimes and she wears a mask until it becomes unbearable and needs an inhaler. The OP is clearly exempt but is fed up with the comments she receives when she doesn’t try and wear a mask.
On another thread the OP has both asthma and has experienced horrific sexual abuse resulting in PTSD. Therefore she cannot cover her face in any way with anything (mask, visor, scarf, etc) because it is understandably triggering. Or should I say most reasonable people would find it understandable. The OP has a hidden exemption and is often a target because of this.

Yes, mask exempt people could decorate themselves with lanyards and signs or even go a step further and have a t-shirt made listing their full medical history. But why should they have to? Why can’t they be given the benefit of the doubt?

Where is the compassion in some people? Why can’t some people just accept that we are not all the same and have different experiences in life?
What one person can cope with another might not be able to, I thought that was just common sense.

In my mind it is quite simple, nobody has the right to verbally or physically abuse someone because they are not wearing a mask. Bullying is generally classed as unacceptable in most places, why is mask exemption met with such hostility by some people? I just don’t understand it.

The examples of bullying I have heard of tends to be towards people on their own that don’t look like a threat and not so much towards burly looking people who seem like they could handle themselves in a fight. Just saying.

Can’t we just be kind to each other, if we can’t be kind can’t we just have a little bit of tolerance and if neither of those are possible why not just say nothing and move on? Why the tuts and why the nasty comments by some people?

We are all living through such stressful times, this pandemic doesn’t have to be made any worse.

Well done if you have reached the end of my ramblings. Thank you for reading and stay safe and well everyone.

Please stop referring to me as a troll - I’m not. I think I probably should have refrained from sharing my opinions on this thread, the last thing I want to do is upset anyone and this is such a sensitive subject for all of us - that much I’m sure we can agree on.

Stay safe.

A relative can’t wear a mask . When she does, she has non epileptic attacks due to PTSD, which inevitably leads to an ambulance being called, causing everyone much more chance of catching Covid .

Given she doesn’t really go out much as it is she’s at far, far greater risk from the others around her than she is to them .

Thankfully she hasn’t had any abuse yet from the public, we stick fairly close to home just in case !

My friend works in the NHS as a cleaner. She is exempt because she is epileptic. It hasnt stopped her being bullied though.

Why does having epilepsy make her exempt?

I have epilepsy and it wouldn’t occur to me that it means I’m exempt.

I’m genuinely interested.... not being goady, just curious.

I'm exempt for MH reasons. I won't wear a lanyard as I feel that makes me stand out more.
When people give me the glare. I ask them if everything is OK. Only once has somone had a go at me.
I'm quite hard skinned in the respect that I will stand up for myself and tell people to mind their own business.

But it is hard.

@QueenofmyPrinces From what I've read, I believe a mask can be an issue for epileptics with uncontrolled seizures. I've also seen it said that if wearing a mask causes anxiety, it can trigger a seizure. I think it's like many medical conditions - some can wear a mask, some can't.

I won't wear a lanyard as I feel that makes me stand out more

It's obviously up to you, and as your exemption is for mental health reasons, your perception of things is pretty much the most important thing, but I work in a shop and the people without a mask or lanyard are really noticeable.

When someone comes in with no mask and a lanyard, I just smile at them and welcome them into the shop, and treat them like any other customer . If they don't have a lanyard, I remind them that are required to wear a mask in the shop and ask them if they are exempt.

When they approach the tills, the member of staff there would also remind the customer that masks need to be worn unless you are exempt, because some people take off their mask once they enter the shop. They would also remind the nose-revealers to pull their masks back up.

So

Posted too soon...

I just wanted to add that while wearing a lanyard is optional, it does make things smoother and is less obtrusive than not wearing one. Plenty if people keep theirs in a bag or pocket and just wear it when they enter the building.

I don't wear a lanyard. DS has autism. Sunflower lanyards were created for support and reasonable adaptions to assist people with hidden disabilities such as being fast tracked to avoid stressful queues.

I struggle with masks. I stopped trying to wear my single layer buffs after episodes of hyperventilating within a minute or two of entering a shop, so now generally wear a visor. I feel that wearing a lanyard for a specific, relatively short term issue does a disservice to the people with long term hidden disabilities that are supposed to benefit from the scheme and undermines the original intention.

Lanyards should also be optional for when people feel they need support, not used to generally advertise hidden disability in order to fend off abuse. In some cases people have been abused for wearing lanyards anyway, and nothing other than mindless beautific complience is enough for the worst of the mask-zealots.

The law states that if you are not wearing a mask for physical or mental health exemptions, that is enough.

Fortunately I've had no issues in public. On occasions where I've hyperventilated, staff have been very caring.
I tend to minimise where I go where masks are required and shop at off-peak times.
Due to lip reading and auditory processing issues I find it hard being around others wearing them even before my claustrophobia/ sensory issues are involved to trigger hyperventilating.

@Funkypolar

I’m sure one day it’ll be proven that masks don’t actually work. I’m looking forward to the silence from the mask obsessives...

So are you just anti mask or is it in medical grounds you object to wearing one? Or do you wear one? Because that's what people don't like. Feeling like people are taking the piss and just not wearing one because of political views.

As someone with anxiety and very bad claustrophobia I completely understand what might feel like no big deal to most can evoke fear and complete panic in some. So I'd much rather people who feel unable to wear a mask are not pressured. This view comes with having to accept people's self identification as not being able to wear a mask. I just really hope for the people who can wear one and choose not to and say they can't they don't ultimately cause problems for the people who genuinely can't.

It's also been pretty well proven that a mask doesn't restrict oxygen in anyway. So if someone has a breathing condition it's just the feel of the mask not any restriction of oxygen. That's valid, it can't be pleasant but it's not the same as I will stop breathing if I wear one.

@Sallydimebar - Just wondering why you felt the need to post that on a thread that is meant to be supporting people who are exempt from mask wearing? Plenty of other threads you could have posted on.

Surely it is possible to have compassion for those who have tragically lost loved ones to Covid as well as those who are exempt from wearing a mask. I didn’t know we all born with a limited amount of compassion.

FFS

I have PTSD because my ex tied me to the bed and left there for 5 days whilst gagged and blind folded. I left shit head with what I could fit into my truck (I drove a pick up) the next day

Strangely enough - putting a mask on causes me issues

I don't get PTSD over the thought that I may cause someone to die because frankly that pales into comparison compared to being gagged asI was

And it pales into comparison because I'm human and for most humans who don't virtue signal, my survival is more important to me than the survival of a stranger I've never met

"Sorry no time for non mask wearing."

I've no time for those who make uneducated comments.

The only exemptions should be able to produce a certificate from their GP to that effect, not self declare.

And this is no more intolerant than expecting people to wear seatbelts or have a medical certificate (and be prepared to produce it) if challenged.

Do people make their own shit up? Honestly I think some just like to justify their intolerance by deciding that you need to have a medical certification to wear a mask.

Why don't you read the government publications where it says 'no person needs to seek advice or request a letter from a medical profession about their reason for not wearing a face covering'. Even if someone wanted a medical exception card no one will issue one because the law says there is no need.

I wear a mask because I'm not exempt and that's what the law says. I am fully supportive of anyone who is not wearing a mask and would always assume they are exempt. That's also what the law says - they can't be asked for proof.

I'm exempt. I very much struggle to breathe with a mask on, it makes me feel claustrophobic, panicky. This is nothing new - i drove the nurses nuts trying to rip an oxygen mask off my face after a major operation too even though they kept reassuring me that it was helping me breathe, not hindering me.

I don't think the people who can comfortably wear a mask, or just wear one uncomfortably for periods, get it. It's not being precious about wearing a mask.

I do have a plastic visor. I know it is practically useless in terms of controlling anything but it is a particularly effective arsehole deflector. I don't wear a sunflower lanyard.

And as for the "well you're just putting people at risk and should stay at home" - I'm really not.

Rates in my area are fairly low. I work from home, DH works at home, we don't use public transport, we're not socialising outside the house, we've not seen parents/relatives for months, no house parties. I really don't think masks are the magic bullet that they have been sold as. Yes they probably help a bit and are essential in hospital where people are most definitely infected. But if we're told that the risk is being in close proximity to someone for 15 minutes, why are they needed in shops? It's contradictory.

Such a shame that a thread started for support is collecting opinions about the exempt instead - not why the OP started it, and there are enough of those threads. It's like having a thread for sufferers of ME and people piling on saying they don't believe in ME and they should just pull themselves together (which sadly I've seen.)

I'm exempt due to severe lung disease. I just don't go in shops etc but I go to a cafe sometimes now since stopping shielding. I've found I can manage to wear one of those pull on things - leaves a lot more room for air to circulate - and cope with that for a few minutes so feel better about going in and out of the cafe. I did go somewhere I had to wear it longer and really tried but I kept going faint and feeling I had no oxygen. It's really hard to explain to those who don't have lung issues - you just feel like you're drowning and need air. I'll keep struggling on with the covering I have when I have to go somewhere but mainly just stay home now as I just don't want the hassle or the stares if I can't cope and have to take it off.

Thanks OP for the kind thought of starting this thread. Sadly I don't think it'll feel like a safe place for those who are exempt.

@ACautionaryTale I am so sorry for what you have gone through and so sorry that others make you feel so uncomfortable when you have such an important exemption.

FFS can't people let those who are exempt have just one thread for support?

It's not like you're even saying anything new. It's the same boring shitty opinions that are posted page after page, thread after thread for weeks now, every time this topic comes up.

@LangClegsInSpace No, apparently not.

It seems to me that there's a real element of 'victim blaming' coming in to play now concerning the mask exempt. Very disturbing.

@LangClegsInSpace

FFS can't people let those who are exempt have just one thread for support?

It's not like you're even saying anything new. It's the same boring shitty opinions that are posted page after page, thread after thread for weeks now, every time this topic comes up.

Nope - we won't get one place. The Govt are nicely hiding from their woeful handling of the situation, and Brexit and everything else they've fucked up by turning us all against each other - and at the moment they're just prodding the fighting about masks while they get on with fucking things up and making their mates even more money.

Even the sunflower lanyards are now becoming a hate target - I've had abuse when wearing mine (I hardly go out in public these days it's so unpleasant out there) - funnily none if I have my very large DH with me - but a middle aged woman on their own is absolutely a prime target. Again - the fact these people go for the "easy" targets shows the bullying mentality.

My life these days involves an occasional trip to Tesco (where the staff are lovely), the school gates (we don't enter the school grounds at all) and that's about it. I used to get the train to uni - I can't do that because of the mask hostility, I don't attend campus based lectures because of the mask hostility... and the kids' activities have all closed down and given up because of Covid so that's it - that's my life. That 2020 diary I bought was a fucking waste of money.

Utterly disgusted by the poster above saying PTSD sufferers are selfish for not wearing one

This is NOT a mainstream view for anyone reading this and feeling upset.

This is a disgusting thing to say.

I’m not exempt from wearing masks and I fully support anyone who is. It’s none of my business.