Do you have no-mask anxiety? UAE psychologists share tips

As Covid rules ease across the country, residents are expressing mixed feelings towards the change in policy. However, psychologists in the UAE say that uncertainty is a part of change.

“During times of change and uncertainty, our minds and bodies respond both physiologically and emotionally. On one end of the spectrum, some people, especially those who may not be ready to have the masks removed yet, may feel powerless to circumstances out of their control,” said Dr Saliha Afridi, clinical psychologist and managing director of Lighthouse Arabia.

Dr Lakshmi Saranya, clinical psychologist, Zivanza Millennium Medical Centre, highlighted two main factors for a person to feel anxious without a mask.

“One is the general shyness in their personality and the other can be because of social anxiety disorder,” said Dr Saranya mentioning that people of different ages who are suffering from this kind of anxiety react differently. “An adolescent will be more concerned than an adult to remove the mask.”

During transition periods, which typically last six weeks, one may experience symptoms of stress and anxiety.

What to watch out for

Dr Afridi says that individuals with no-mask anxiety issues will most likely experience bouts of elevated anxiety with symptoms such as rapid heart rate or pressure in the chest, restlessness, feeling agitated and irritable, excess worry, tense muscles, being unable to sleep, and/or symptoms of panic attacks.

Dr Saranya categorised symptoms based on physical, behavioural and cognitive.

Physical symptoms can be sweating, trembling, blushing, pounding heart, having a shaky voice, choking sensations, and stiffness in the body.

Behaviour and emotional symptoms may include: avoidance of doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment, avoidance of situations where you might be the centre of attention, avoidance behaviours where you are fearing the spread of illness, low confidence, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Cognitive symptoms can be fear of situations in which you may be judged negatively, worrying about embarrassing or humiliating oneself, fear of interacting with others either because of fear or the spread of illness.

Psychologists affirmed that the point at which no-mask anxiety or any form of anxiety for that matter becomes concerning is when it consistently starts getting in the way of social, occupational, or academic functioning.

“A person unable to go out to the grocery store or to work because they feel afraid, or a person who is no longer socialising with people because they cannot stop thinking about the possibility of Covid-19 being amidst them,” said Dr Afridi.

“The best way to manage big changes is by approaching them intentionally,” added Dr Afridi.