Masking hides our ability to express true emotions. During the masking mandates and after wearing mask were sometimes to fit in with societal beliefs or to avoid getting in trouble. Why were some counties and states not masking like others were. Makes ya wonder. Masking can have horrible effects on children’s mental health and well-being.
Here are some symptoms that may arise in children after the masking
- Anxiety: Masking can lead to feelings of anxiety as children leading to a constant sense of worry and stress.
- Depression: Masking can lead to a sense of isolation and disconnection from others. This often leads to feelings of depression and low mood.
- Social withdrawal: Children feel like they can’t be their true selves around others. This leads to social withdrawal and isolation.
- Lack of self-esteem: Masking can lead to a lack of self-esteem due to all the fear surrounding the masking.
- Difficulty with emotional regulation: Masking made it difficult for children to regulate their emotions. Not have the opportunity to express their true feelings about scary things causes a long lasting feeling of doom.
- Impairs social connection: Masking impairs skills children need to learn to express themselves authentically.
- Physical symptoms: Masking can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches and fatigue. The stress of hiding one’s true self can take a toll on the body.
It’s important to note that masking can have long-term effects on a child’s mental and emotional health. It’s important to create safe and supportive environments where children can be their authentic selves and feel accepted for who they are.
Solutions for after the mask
- Limit exposure to the source of fear. Whether it’s the news, social media, or conversations with others. It’s important to balance staying informed and protecting mental health.
- Talk openly and honestly. Validate your feelings.
- Provide accurate information rather than relying on rumors or speculation. This can help to understand what’s happening and feel more in control.
- Coping skills: Learning coping skills goes a long way. Deep breathing, mindfulness, or creative activities like drawing or writing. This can help the brain to manage emotions.
- Safety and security: Create a sense of safety and security by maintaining routines, Come up with a plan to make yourself feel better, find the positives – even if you have to look really hard. It will give your brain a break.
- Focus on the positive: Find stories of bouncing back after a bad thing happened. Resilience, hope and kindness are great traits in the worst situations. This can also make negative thoughts or feelings go away.