Feeling Anxious About Wearing A Mask? Here Are 5 Ways To Overcome It

Jessica Gold, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

 

Tara Herrmann, PhD, has a history of asthma and was in the emergency room and hospital numerous times growing up. Before Covid-19, she already struggled with masks as simply wearing one would worsen her anxiety and “put me back in that place.” She said she would have rather have had an asthma attack than wear a mask. But, with Covid-19, she has “just had to deal.”

It has not been easy for her, but eventually she found a mask that did not elicit anxiety and wearing one has become easier over time. Given that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted the importance of wearing masks during their testimony before the Senate yesterday, it is only becoming more clear that her ability to learn to wear a mask despite her anxiety may actually save lives.

Yet, Tara is not alone in her discomfort. In fact, feeling anxious about wearing a mask is actually a normal physiologic reaction.

Read the full piece in Forbes.

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