Mask wearing has reduced my suicidality/social anxiety

[Snake of Eden]

As somebody who is extremely self conscious about my facial appearance , I found mask wearing since pandemic has greatly benefited me psychologically as I dont have to worry or think much of how my face looks. I really think I will keep wearing mask long after it is no longer required and my excuse would be that I am just extra paranoid about catching this or any other disease. I think even my suicidality was partially offset by the effect of knowing that others cant tell if I look bad or not. It has been a blessing as I used to be told often that my face looks sad, angry or distraught and I can never hide how I look as I think it is something related to my autism that my facial expressions are generally tense. I wonder if others felt similar and if it helped them feel psychologically better to be able to hide their face and why does that help them?

link to study is interesting evaluation of how mask wearing affects social anxiety https://www.psypost.org/2021/07/mas...people-who-struggle-with-social-anxiety-61598

 

[newave3]

I love wearing the mask because it hides my face but there is another reason I will wear the mask even after this Covid nonsense subsides. Half of my chin is completely numb from oral surgery many years ago and the mask puts slight pressure on other parts of my face. This pressure helps alleviate my concentration on the numbness in my chin. The totalitarian scum that rule the world have actually done me a favor this time around.

 

[OnlyTheWind]

I noticed this too! Anxiety reduction, that is.

 

[Winklemate]

I'm mixed on this because before COVID, I would basically always wear sunglasses whilst outside or at work because I don't like eye contact, I don't like people seeing my eyes, and every now and again I got a compliment on the sunglasses which was mostly nice. And the mask works great for similar principle but it does conflict with the sunglasses to the point where I've stopped wearing them when I got out because they just get too foggy. So if I make it to the point where it's not longer common, I have quite a Sophie's choice on my hand.

 

[Reap94]

You have diagnosed autism?

 

[BluesRunTheGame]

Not for me. My eye area is ugly af but my beard rocks lol.

 

[Snake of Eden]

You have diagnosed autism?

No but I highly suspect that I am neurodivergent. In my home country at 36 years of age no doctor would recommend a diagnosis even when I asked for it because they see no value in it. To me it changed my life and how I see myself in alot of ways some positive and some negative but at least I know why I struggled so much especially socially and still do all my life. I really dont see the need of a formal diagnosis at this point because I believe there are no set traits that you must have to be an autistic and can present very differently in people.

Not for me. My eye area is ugly af but my beard rocks lol.

I hate my hair so i always cover it with a hat but I like my eyes

 

[Reap94]

No but I highly suspect that I am neurodivergent. In my home country at 36 years of age no doctor would recommend a diagnosis even when I asked for it because they see no value in it. To me it changed my life and how I see myself in alot of ways some positive and some negative but at least I know why I struggled so much especially socially and still do all my life. I really dont see the need of a formal diagnosis at this point because I believe there are no set traits that you must have to be an autistic and can present very differently in people.

I hate my hair so i always cover it with a hat but I like my eyes

Thats right,autistic behavior can be seem through a lot of of diagnoses.

Like anxiety can be mistaken for autism. So like often patients with BPD gets misdiagnosed, this is what I've heard my doctor say. They told me after a long trial I didn't have ASD but I'm in line for evaluation of personality disturbances.


I've heard people say I'm autistic mainly because i don't show any expression but also I guess because I have just 1 friend and we don't really click or have that much in common. Come to think of it I had a best friend when I lived somewhere else but the relationship was heavily influenced by drug use.
I'd sY my social behavior is much worse after I got In trouble with drugs


I never knew the dangers with drugs so when they clawed on to me I overused it and they destroyed me after they saved me totally from my long depression.
So basically feeling OK but using for a year and then destroyed completely

 

[Snake of Eden]

Thats right,autistic behavior can be seem through a lot of of diagnoses.

Like anxiety can be mistaken for autism. So like often patients with BPD gets misdiagnosed, this is what I've heard my doctor say. They told me after a long trial I didn't have ASD but I'm in line for evaluation of personality disturbances.

Ultimately you know best about yourself. Dont let the waiting stops you from educating yourself and get a feel for what resonates more with you as a potential diagnosis. I wish you good luck to learn better about who you are.

 

[Reap94]

Ultimately you know best about yourself. Dont let the waiting stops you from educating yourself and get a feel for what resonates more with you as a potential diagnosis. I wish you good luck to learn better about who you are.

Except I don't care anymore. I'm done with life. Just a matter of month's before I go.

Fuvk this cesspool biology and fuvk the randomness in life, the randomness that plays so closely with life and death .
It's absurd looking at life like if it was a lottery because it really is. It's bizarre

 

[Snake of Eden]

Except I don't care anymore. I'm done with life. Just a matter of month's before I go.

Fuvk this cesspool biology and fuvk the randomness in life, the randomness that plays so closely with life and death .
It's absurd looking at life like if it was a lottery because it really is. It's bizarre

I relate alot to what you say. I share the same nihilism as you. I think with whats left of my time it doesnt hurt to learn more about why i am who i am because ultimately ctb or not it all what is life is about is to self actualize and i dont mean in maslow's definition. I mean in more personal sense. I hope you find peace and happiness in whatever time period we have on earth.

 

[FuneralCry]

I actually don't mind wearing masks at all, I like having my face partially hidden.

 

[TooConscious]

There's actually lockdown addiction being talked about in circles like ours.
I didn't mind the masks too other than breathing. It sure made getting my shopping easier.

 

[PaxAmerica]

Masks are great for my anxiety. No one looks at you. Its like your wearing an invisible cloak. And i dont have to shave.

 

[rotten]

I agree. This has definitely helped out with my social anxiety whenever I need to go out. I know it's not a good thing, but where I live they are making you wear them again.. and.....well....I'm glad.

 

[RainAndSadness]

I know a lot of trans people appreciate the masks because it hides lack of passing and therefore resolves some gender dysphoria related to social interactions. I'm also part of the group that enjoys wearing a mask for that reason and it helps with social anxiety. Long live the masks. My hope is that we can establish a similiar culture that exists in many Asian countries where wearing a mask in public under certain circumstances is completely normal and even considered a decent gesture. It doesn't look like the pandemic comes to an end very soon anyway.

 

[Mr2005]

I'll still be wearing one through choice