Goodbye indoor mask: what will be the psychological effect of this change?

This Tuesday, April 19, he was approved in Congress of Deputies Spain end of mandatory mask use indoors. Therefore, from tomorrow, April 20, you will only have a fine for not carrying it through. clinics, nursing homes and public transport. The measure is not exempt from controversy, since many believe that this happens only for political reasons and has no scientific support. The population is divided over this, and there are those who are afraid to give it up. But will it have consequences for psychological?

Much has been said about what it will be for children and teenagers. traumatic leave the mask because they wore it during a period of their lives that was subject to many changes, and now they are afraid show all your face. They also talk about anxiety and stress social pressure between opposing groups. That is, those who will continue to wear it are afraid of criticism from those who do not wear it. And those who return to showing their full faces in almost any circumstance will no doubt be criticized by those who support indoor mask.

Let’s not forget what’s coming now not a ban, but a release. It will no longer be mandatory to wear a mask indoors, but those who wish can continue to do so. In fact, it is still recommended in many areas. Therefore, there will be many different cases and it is clear that some may experience some psychological discomfort. But will this be the norm or the exception?

Farewell mask indoors

The indoor mask will only be mandatory in Spain in medical centers, nursing homes and public transport. However recommendation persists in many other rooms, especially in poorly ventilated places or with a large crowd of people. Even outdoors, it is recommended in places where many people gather, as happened recently during Holy Week processions. Also it is recommended to use it for anyone who has symptoms. But many people have already assured that they will not take him under any circumstances, despite the recommendations.

Therefore, there are many expectations and uncertainty about. And when there is uncertainty, there can be anxiety. But how will all this affect us mentally?

To find out in hypertext we contacted a psychologist, university professor and science communicator Ramon Nogueraswho, by his conversation, calls for calm in this regard. And it lies in the fact that, to begin with, it does not even seem that it will be so traumatic for teenagers to show their face again. “There is no investigation or anything minimally reliable about it,” he says. “This opinion purely observant“.

But what about the elders? It is understood that after two years of wearing a mask indoors, the sudden appearance of people without a mask may shock some people. However, Nogueras believes that this will not be for long and that cases in which any anxiety develops they won’t be the majority. “Yes, this can happen, because in the media, in my opinion, a very negative message was given,” says the psychologist. “But I think that alarming cases they will be infrequent and that there would be nothing to say about syndromes at all.

Let’s remember that after confinement, there was talk of hut syndrome when it came to people who might be afraid to leave the house after spending so much time in it. But the syndrome is so much more, and psychologists were quick to deny it. This time, according to Nogueras, something similar will happen.

“All changes and adaptations have the potential to cause some anxiety or discomfort, for example when we start a new job. It should be equated with any other change. Two years ago we had a very drastic change, now we are adapting again to something that, on the other hand, is natural for everyone except very young children who do not know anything else. Most of us already know what it’s like to live indoors without a mask, so adapting should be a lot easier. If it is also seen that the fiasco is not happening, people experiencing anxiety will gradually adapt.

Ramon Nogueras, psychologist, university professor and science communicator

What can we do if we are afraid?

Everyone has their own circumstances. There may be people who are vulnerable or live with someone who is. And it may simply seem to someone that the time to remove the mask indoors has not yet come. For this reason, the first thing we should all keep in mind, whether we continue to wear it or not, is that it should respect those who decide otherwise. We are at a stage where both options are legally acceptable, whether we like it or not.

However, some people may be afraid of what they will say or feel under some social pressure. However, for Nogueras, this feeling will be very short, because in time both will see that most people will not notice them, and will be able to calmly continue their decision.

Now, if caution, more than logical and acceptable, turns into anxiety, it is important to try adapt slowly. “The impact of the alarming situation should gradual and progressive process“, recalls Nogueras. “I recommend to anyone who is worried about removing the mask to start gradually.” Before leaving the mask indoors, it may be wise to start outdoors. “It may be they could leave it out in the open and then, when it suits them, on the terrace with more people. Little by little, when you see that nothing is happening, the anxiety subsides.”

In short, it will never be mandatory to walk indoors without a mask. Even many scientists and specialists have already stated that they will continue to use it for some time. Each person can do what he wants, and whoever thinks that for one reason or another he must continue to wear it should not pay attention to what others are doing. Like others, they also shouldn’t criticize anyone’s decision.

However, if we see that caution becomes fear and that anxiety prevents us from carrying out any activity, it would be advisable to make that gradual exposure that Nogueras speaks of. Or even go to a psychologist if these feelings become very extreme. The trick is to go hand in hand with caution, but not be carried away by fear. This is the only thing we need to keep in mind. As citizens, once a law is passed, we are the owners of all decisions that adhere to it.