Blog Masks are not for everyone

Remember when coronavirus started making news? We were told a good thing which was to wash your hands often. When I grew up both parents and teachers not only taught the importance of hand washing but made us kids do so after playing outside, before eating, etc.

Roll down the years and someone got the bright idea that this simple sanitary practice wasn’t fair to everyone or some such nonsense and this simple practice that saves lives and health went by the wayside. Now it is back and I hope this will once again become a normal practice in homes and schools.

The other thing we were told was not to touch our faces. It was like being told not to think of a pink elephant and all you can think of is that pink elephant. Telling us not to touch our faces suddenly made us self-conscious about how much we touched our faces. Hard to stop.

Then the “wear a mask” mandate came down and everyone hurried to find something to over their nose and mouth. In certain cases this was voluntary, but more and more it became a mandate. I have watched those who wear masks. Many are constantly touching their faces pulling the mask up, adjusting the nose covering or the strings that fit around the ears.

When you consider this is supposed to be sanitary protection, then the whole idea goes south. After leaving the business establishment, some throw the mask in their pockets, purses, or in the glove compartment until the “next time” it is required.

Doesn’t take long for these masks to become saturated with germs. If you wear masks, for your well-being, please keep them clean

There are enterprises who geared up to make this product and now entice potential customers to wear a mask in the privacy of their homes or in an open-air park. Really! Where ads used to sell their products with sex, now products use fear.

Many who mandate masks have little concept of the unintended consequences. Very young children should NOT be forced to wear a mask. They are just learning how to breathe. Others report getting dizzy trying to wear a mask for even short periods of time. Many with asthma or other breathing problems simply cannot wear a mask for physical health reasons. Those with claustrophobia problems suffer panic attacks.

Some, like medical personnel and those showing symptoms, should probably wear masks—short term. According to the CDC some definitely should not. These include Children under age 2. Anyone who has trouble breathing. Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or can’t remove a face mask without help.

Some medical and government acknowledge this problem, but many do not. I’m one who cannot wear a mask. Add to panic and breathing problems, consider how am I to wear this mask.

I need someone else to put it on me. Someone to adjust it when needed and someone to remove it. In an era of self-distancing that doesn’t work. I don’t go get my hair cut because those who go to a business to get their hair cut have to wear a mask. How does that work?

Many of today’s restrictions make little sense and have more to do with assumptions of good rather than scientific or medical proof. I can’t help but wonder about the balance between drawbacks and benefits. Now we’re afraid to go outside and simply breathe fresh air.

I’ll be glad when we put them away for good. (Real, not fake data comparing the states and countries who masked against those that didn’t. The result. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. Wearing a mask is a fairy tale, not science. Don’t you wonder why so many authoritarian organizations including medical establishments try to prolong the usage?

© 2020 Carolyn R Scheidies
Published in Kearney Hub 7/6/2020
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Blog Fear undermines response, our health

Photo by Melanie Wasser on Unsplash

Recently when Keith and I had hair cuts, a third employee entered apologizing for being late. She told us, she’d been in a line at Walmart when some gunk in her throat made her cough. The lady behind her freaked out, grabbing her phone and had her finger on 911. She wanted this woman who coughed out of line and out of the store.

Frustrated, the woman turned around and said, “I merely coughed on my spit.” 

What people don’t understand is that summoning emergency personnel for what may turn out to be nothing, means these services may not be available for that car accident or other emergency situation where minutes may make the difference between life and death.

Trigger-happy responses stem from fear--not merely caution. Fear changes how our bodies deal with stress, actually lowering immunity and setting us up for illness. Certain hormones increase.

In the article “How Fear Impacts Your Health” Health Prep stated,, “... when these hormone levels are constantly being increased, they can have a very traumatic effect on long-term health.”

The article goes on to say fear weakens the immune system. “Another aspect of living in long-term fear is collateral health damage. Individuals suffering from extreme stress or the fear of something may abuse substances to cope.”

Fear leads to searching for escape. March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt took the oath of office as our 32nd president. After taking the oath, he delivered a twenty minute speech, a part of which has been repeated many times over the years. With the Corona virus making its way across the globe causing fear and panic, partly due to the drumbeat of some in the national media, it is time to remind ourselves of Roosevelt’s famous speech.

For those who might pass it off as something from a conservative side of the aisle, I’ll remind you that Franklin D. Roosevelt was a Democrat.“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.”

Roosevelt understood fear is dangerous. Make no mistake, fear can kill you. Fear increases stress to impossible levels, short-circuiting the protections the body usually has in place to fight off illness or even rational thought in some cases. (Ever been so afraid you freeze in place instead of running away?)

The Bible says the answer to fear starts with God’s comfort and strength as we turn our fear over to Him. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

We need to stop allowing the media or our own imagination to freeze rational thinking, replacing it with irrational fear. God is in control, but even if you don’t believe, look at the truth at how many are infected, how many actually die and how many--most--survive.

Use basic, sensible precautions, recognizing that with all outbreaks--this, too shall pass. You can get through this. Choose not to pass on either the virus or irrational, paralyzing fear.

© 2020 Carolyn R Scheidies
Published by the Kearney Hub 4/6/2020
Feel free to share