ASD and face masks

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My husband and I have been using “tube” scarves. Kind of like a light weight turtleneck. I had them for when I go walking in dusty areas. You pop them over your head and they sit around your neck until you need it and then you pull it up over your nose. No straps or ties. I tuck the edge under my glasses so they don’t fog up. Works well for us, but I know that technically they are not useful against the virus. They are knit, not woven but they can be folded to two layers.

You can use them as headbands or even caps. It’s been impossible to buy any kind of masks where I live. Mail order ones take about two months.

I've only had to wear masks for short periods until now, but starting tomorrow I will have to wear them to work. They're stuffy and uncomfortable. They might improve my looks, but I'm not looking forward to the experience.

They're not mandatory where I live unless you work. I can't wear one...period. I have SEVERE tactile issues. Maybe I could learn gradually BEFORE a f*****g crisis, but I can't do anything when it is f*****g forced upon me. I'm on disability and stay at home all the time anyway, just like I did before this pandemic. I live in a teeny tiny town with no access to anything and was never allowed to learn how to drive. Was taking lessons but those are canceled now. People gave me so much flack about the solvable issues I was having, like don't f*****g yell at me, instructor lady and expect me not to freak out that I probably won't try again when and if this is ever over.

I absolutely hate having to wear face masks. I force myself to when its needed, but I find it hard to breathe with them on, plus having things over my mouth and/or nose feels very weird and is uncomfortable.

Can wearing face-masks be disorientating; even after becoming used-to wearing masks after several weeks?

I absolutely almost have a panic attack when wearing for long periods of time.You may be come disorientated?

Wearing a mask fogs my glasses. Very unpleasant, but has to be done anyway. Yuck.

In my case...

Wearing one usually makes my (non)allergic rhinitis worse. I don't deal with tactile issues and I don't mind much about fogging glasses.
I deal with nasal drip in the mask (disgusting) and struggle breathing with it. I have to wear one for appearance's sake of not making anyone else worry, and the current outdoor policies.

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A couple of Facebook Friends (one of whom I know well and like in real life, the other I know less well and don't like him so much) have shared posts that say it's immature and selfish to not protect others by wearing a mask, and that comfort is not important compared to this. I wish they'd be less judgemental and accept that the science isn't that clear cut, and that masks aren't necessarily appropriate for everybody in all situations. I feel that autistic sensory issues can sometimes be a reasonable exception. Doesn't affect me directly because I've not been in a situation where anybody would want me to wear a mask, but I get angry at that kind of aggressive moral certainty.

I heard a radio phone-in programme in which a member of the public spoke of finding a shop worker in tears because her boss had made her wear a mask all day, and she was very uncomfortable, and I fear the mask could be increasing her risk. The insensitivity of the boss wasn't mentioned. I get angry at that kind of thing too.

Masks problematic for asthmatic, hearing-impaired people and people with autism

my mother sent me two packages of n95 masks with ventilators (unused) that we bought a couple years ago when the area i lived in at the time was experiencing massive wildfires and ash was falling like snow. i use those when leaving my island.

at work i use a cloth mask...and oh boy. wearing one for 8 hours on end, no breaks, plus glasses, the backs of my ears have never experienced something remotely like this before.

i have to delicately balance the nose bridge of my glasses just above where the mask meets my nose to create a sort of "seal", and maintain it there. otherwise it's fog city and i can't see a thing

it's hard to breathe with n95s. i wore one for an hour last week and i felt out of breath the whole rest of the day.