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Hiding beneath a full face mask - nothing to do with Covid 19

NAS74907

Hi, I am wondering if anybody has come across the wearing of a face mask as some form of comfort?  My 17 year old son, diagnosed with Aspergers wants to wear a mask to hide his face.  He has created a design which contains aspects of things he likes and wants to wear it when he is outside.  He starts college tomorrow and I am panicking.  Is this to do with Autism? Is it to do with problems he had at school (socialising with others and 'torturing' by teachers).  I want to let him be himself, but I am worried about the reaction of others - both staff and fellow students.

Any help info or suggestions?

Parents

  • Well the first day of college is like the first day of highschool or even kindergarden, is scary because it's a new environment, you don't know anyone there, and every single person has anxiety, even for those who are usually extroverted. Approaching others is awkward, and breaking that tension everyone is feeling is very difficult. 

    I think that if he just goes in with a full face mask, and no one knows him yet, it might be intimidating for others to approach him. But if he's already established some kind of bond with others, and then he chooses to wear his creative full face mask, it might be okay because they already know him.

    I mean, I understand that it's comfortable to hide the face, like some people like wearing baseball hats, or hoodies, to create a cave-like interior, so that they have the perception of being in an enclosed space, and they feel a lot safer. 

    Perhaps you could convince him to create a T-shirt design instead? Because if he shows off his full face mask, everyone might just stare at his face, and that might be uncomfortable. Also it might get too hot, and he might have trouble breathing. 

Reply

  • Well the first day of college is like the first day of highschool or even kindergarden, is scary because it's a new environment, you don't know anyone there, and every single person has anxiety, even for those who are usually extroverted. Approaching others is awkward, and breaking that tension everyone is feeling is very difficult. 

    I think that if he just goes in with a full face mask, and no one knows him yet, it might be intimidating for others to approach him. But if he's already established some kind of bond with others, and then he chooses to wear his creative full face mask, it might be okay because they already know him.

    I mean, I understand that it's comfortable to hide the face, like some people like wearing baseball hats, or hoodies, to create a cave-like interior, so that they have the perception of being in an enclosed space, and they feel a lot safer. 

    Perhaps you could convince him to create a T-shirt design instead? Because if he shows off his full face mask, everyone might just stare at his face, and that might be uncomfortable. Also it might get too hot, and he might have trouble breathing. 

Children
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