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Uncomfortable Wearing Face Masks? Try This.
A strategy for face mask anxiety
Face masks can be an uncomfortable topic, yes. But for some, it’s not just the idea of face masks that are uncomfortable, but also the physical sensations that may seem unbearable.
I’m a mental health counselor, and I lead regular virtual group meditations. A friend asked me what advice I would give people who find face masks uncomfortable and how mindfulness might help with that. After I shared some thoughts, I decided to try leading a meditation on what it feels like to wear a face mask, and my group agreed to try it with me.
Without getting into pros or cons, or risks or benefits, this meditation simply explores what it truly feels like to wear and breathe with a mask on the face. We explore sensations with curiosity and openness and see what comes up. When I led this meditation, there were a lot of reactions (positive and negative), but the discussion and sharing were beautiful. At the end of the article, you’ll find a link to the meditation video.
So, go get a mask and give this face mask meditation a try! I would absolutely love to hear what you think of this as a focus of meditation and what you noticed as you meditated.
