These masks and the heat are not mixing at all!

Michie said:

I’m just really stressing right now. The oppressive heat is not helping.

Click to expand...

Same here. Between the virus, heat, rioters and my health problems, I'm hanging-in-there only by the help of Jesus, I'm sure.

You guys are lucky so far to not live in a mask mandatory location. I have used all kinds of different masks well before the pandemic. I have worked in sterile environments and also worn respirators for removing asbestos or spraying paint. At some point you do get used to them. The alternative to masks is to shut down more. So please do see your mask as good tool, not a curse.

Michie said:

Well that’s why I wear them but I’m struggling with them. I’ll be honest, I wear them not only for our own safety but the safety of our parents who depend on us. We sent a man to the moon, etc. Can’t we invent a mask that does not make us feel claustrophobic and suffocating to death? Not to mention the heat on top of all of that.

Click to expand...

Maybe it means we didn't really go to the moon lol. (trying to be silly)

Michie said:

So I have had to shop for us and pick up things for our parents. Between the heat and the mask, I go into full claustrophobic/anxiety mode. I feel like my face is breaking out in hives. Seriously, if they want us to wear masks they need to make some that are feasible to wear. It was awful!

Click to expand...

Good masks are generally expensive. Otherwise you are stuck with masks that either do very little or don't let you get enough air. Sorry. I hate these masks. But now it sounds like certain politicians are going to try to mandate masks whenever in public.

Michie said:

Not here at all. Shopping is a pain in the behind. Masks are the icing on the cake.

Click to expand...

I placed an order with a big box hardware store that had curbside pickup. Except they no longer had curbside pickup and you had to go into the store. They could no longer bring it out to me. So I cancelled the order and am now setting up with their competitor.

Home delivery and curbside pickup do help a lot.

Michie said:

So I have had to shop for us and pick up things for our parents. Between the heat and the mask, I go into full claustrophobic/anxiety mode. I feel like my face is breaking out in hives. Seriously, if they want us to wear masks they need to make some that are feasible to wear. It was awful!

Click to expand...

I heard something interesting from an OSHA employee a while back that basically said all of the recommended masks are garbage for these purposes. Like N95 masks are made for already-contaminated environments, so they only filter what comes in but not what goes out. He also said surgical masks are designed for sterile environments where surgeries are performed - they do nothing in regular places where dust and debris and all kinds of bugs and germs are swirling around.

Which is part of the reason I'm like "to hell with masks". They don't do anything, and I think pleading with or forcing people to wear them is just some kind of weird facet of this new religion that's sprung on to the scene. Masks are one of it's shame rituals.

If someone is serious about filtration and protection, they would need to walk around in HAZMAT or MOPP gear.

Fenwick said:

I heard something interesting from an OSHA employee a while back that basically said all of the recommended masks are garbage for these purposes. Like N95 masks are made for already-contaminated environments, so they only filter what comes in but not what goes out. He also said surgical masks are designed for sterile environments where surgeries are performed - they do nothing in regular places where dust and debris and all kinds of bugs and germs are swirling around.

Which is part of the reason I'm like "to hell with masks". They don't do anything, and I think pleading with or forcing people to wear them is just some kind of weird facet of this new religion that's sprung on to the scene. Masks are one of it's shame rituals.

If someone is serious about filtration and protection, they would need to walk around in HAZMAT or MOPP gear.

Click to expand...

HAZMAT moon suits are not at all comfortable according to my wife who used to occasionally wear one in an asbestos abatement job. They guys doing the actual abatement had to waer them all day long.

Michie said:

So I have had to shop for us and pick up things for our parents. Between the heat and the mask, I go into full claustrophobic/anxiety mode. I feel like my face is breaking out in hives. Seriously, if they want us to wear masks they need to make some that are feasible to wear. It was awful!

Click to expand...

I despise wearing my mask. Not because of claustrophobia but because of difficulties breathing.

But I wear it anyway because I get sort of a kick out of foiling Facial Recognition Cameras that surround us every moment of every day. I love that part.

Michie said:

So I have had to shop for us and pick up things for our parents. Between the heat and the mask, I go into full claustrophobic/anxiety mode. I feel like my face is breaking out in hives. Seriously, if they want us to wear masks they need to make some that are feasible to wear. It was awful!

Click to expand...

Maybe get a "necklace fan"? It would provide a little air circulation and maybe help keep you cooler at least.

chevyontheriver said:

HAZMAT moon suits are not at all comfortable according to my wife who used to occasionally wear one in an asbestos abatement job. They guys doing the actual abatement had to waer them all day long.

Click to expand...

And if we think surgical/N95 masks are hot just imagine being sealed into HAZMAT or MOPP gear.

I find breathing steady and slowly helps, I'm not keen on masks but if it helps to keep me and others safe, then okay wear one.

Michie said:

I absolutely agree. But I have panic disorder so the heat does not help.

Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that. The ones we wear were made for us by my nephew who is a fashion designer, they do the job but they are terribly warm. So, we are going to try some other masks. At the moment it's not too difficult to get them here, unlike when all this chaos began.

Michie said:

Unfortunately, running to the store can run into quite the ordeal. We are still experiencing shortages here among other things. Shopping for 3 households is hard.

Click to expand...

Absolutely . I didn’t know you shopped for 3 households. Today was brutally humid too.

Michie said:

Well that’s why I wear them but I’m struggling with them. I’ll be honest, I wear them not only for our own safety but the safety of our parents who depend on us. We sent a man to the moon, etc. Can’t we invent a mask that does not make us feel claustrophobic and suffocating to death? Not to mention the heat on top of all of that.

Click to expand...

There are quite a few different masks being made, though many of them you cannot buy. I imagine some are more comfortable than others. I wear N95 masks for more protection but I know at some point they will fall apart. You are right though, we can put a man on the moon but we can't make enough masks in either quantity or quality. (I wish I were in the mask making business). I guess my point overall is that you can train yourself to wear a mask. Be mentally prepared. I was around when seatbelts became mandatory, it took a long time for many to get used to that. Consider that not wearing a mask is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Sure God can protect you, but it is just prudent to put one on. Though a few states still allow no helmets, doing that only hurts the rider, not anyone else. Wearing a mask in Covid times helps protect us some, but it mainly helps us to protect others such as the loved ones you mention. Anyway, be blessed, mask and all. BTW thanks too for all the great posts you do.