COVID-19: Anxieties about going back to work if you have a visible difference
Advice to help if you are anxious about returning to face-to-face work with your colleagues and other aspects of going back into work.
If you have a visible difference, face coverings may bring mixed feelings for you. We share advice to help you adjust to the idea of wearing a covering.
Changing Faces recommends that you follow the latest Government guidance on staying safe outside your home, including wearing a face covering as required.
However, if you have a visible difference or disfigurement, we know this may be complex and bring mixed feelings or additional challenges for you physically and/or emotionally.
Some people with a visible difference may find wearing a face covering or mask challenging, however others may find it comforting – and some may feel conflicted, experiencing both these feelings at times.
The ability to wear a face covering or mask may feel equalising and mean you feel less fear or worry in “facing” the world. If staring, comments or questions are something you experience regularly in public, then this may be reduced by wearing a face covering.
However, the need to “hide away” or feeling that this is being imposed upon you may feel negative, especially if you have worked hard on coming to terms with your appearance – and are rightly proud of yourself for this. Wearing a face covering or mask may feel like a loss of your self-identity.
For some, wearing a face covering or mask may revive anxieties about people behaving as though you are contagious or something to shy away from – or take you back to previous times of shielding – feeding into old feelings and worries you have already dealt with or learned to cope with.
On the other hand, if you feel safer behind a face covering or mask, you may worry this may delay some of the social anxiety you experience until people stop wearing these in the future, meaning your return to “reality” may be delayed or compromised.
Everyone who can safely wear masks or face coverings should – but the national push to make this the norm may feel stigmatising for people for whom this isn’t an option.
If your condition, mark or scar prevents you from covering your face in the advised way or at all, you may feel anxious that people will notice or comment on this. You may feel worried that people will judge you or feel pressure to explain your reasons for not wearing a face covering or mask.
You may also be worried about the physical impact that wearing a mask or face covering has on your condition.
Some people are exempt from wearing a face covering. To find out more, read the Government guidance. This BBC article is also useful in giving more detail and context about the exemptions.
Some people to choose to wear a badge or lanyard explaining that they are exempt from wearing a mask to avoid judgement or stigmatisation. You may choose to do so or, on the other hand, you may decide that this brings you even more unwanted attention. Feel free to experiment with this approach to explore whether or not it helps.
Masks have made a big difference but I worry about when the masks come off and if people are going to start commenting again. I don’t know if I’ll be prepared to deal with that because I’ve got used to people saying nothing. I’m hoping people remember that some people look different and remember to be kind.
Here are some tips that you might want to think about as you consider the impact of wearing a mask or face covering:
Advice to help if you are anxious about returning to face-to-face work with your colleagues and other aspects of going back into work.
Explore what anxiety is, how it can be connected to your appearance and what you can do to control and manage feelings of worry.