10 Tips for Soothing Anxiety With a Mask On

Wearing a mask is mandatory in Washington state as of last Friday. Most of us have been wearing them before this anyway, and if you haven't, get on that now. While you're at it, make a few calls to demand the arrest of the officers that killed Breonna Taylor.

Masks reduce the possibility of the spread of COVID massively. They are also hard to breathe in.

I often use my breath as a primary tool to soothe myself when I get anxious. And anxiety abounds these days. You know, anxiety, like...when you walk into a grocery store trying to get through it as fast as you can and a bunch of other people with masks reminding you that you live in 2020 and you're trying not to touch anything or touch your face or get too close or wonder is that box going to give me the virus and also systemic oppression and murder of Black people by police and am I doing enough and my personal mental health concerns and...you know. There's ANXIETY.

Anyway. What I'm trying to say is that a deep breath would usually help, but not right now. (Taking action about the things we care about helps) and also you may need to use other skills to soothe the anxiety that you're holding in your body.

Other skills that might help soothe anxiety with a mask on:

• Feel the movement of your legs

• Notice the crinkles of a smile at the edges of people's eyes

• Hug yourself

• Tap your fingers in a rhythm

• Squeeze and release your hands

• Press your feet into the ground

• Roll your neck and/or shoulders

• Place your hand on your chest and feel your heartbeat

• Hold something cold in your hands

• Alternate tapping your feet

What helps you soothe when the breath doesn't?