Face Mask Wearing Is Linked To Substantial Psychological Side Effects
Reason #100 that Face Masks Hurt Kids
Dear Reader,
The wearing of a face mask to protect against a respiratory virus is an act of grand deceit. It is a behavior that defies research on the topic. Wearing a face mask, as this article (one of many) points to — is unsafe to do and is ineffective.
Until the narrative around mandatory masking has changed, each day by 6am Eastern, I will both post here and send out a science-based reason why no one should wear a face mask.
I ask that you help me circulate these pieces to those around you who you believe could most benefit from them. It is important not to remain silent on this topic. These are important discussions to be having with friends, family members, business owners, healthcare practitioners, public servants, and others in the community.
-Allan
Mask wearing is harmful on the mental health of those wearing them and likely harmful on the mental health of those surrounded by people wearing them.
Kai Kisielinski authored an April 20, 2021 article entitled “Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?”1 Kisielinski describes senses of loss, deprivation, and interference stemming from mask wearing, along with impaired performance, impaired decision making, and change in behavior:
“The mask also causes an impaired field of vision (especially affecting the ground and obstacles on the ground) and also presents an inhibition to habitual actions such as eating, drinking, touching, scratching and cleaning the otherwise uncovered part of the face, which is consciously and subconsciously perceived as a permanent disturbance, obstruction and restriction2 Wearing masks, thus, entails a feeling of deprivation of freedom and loss of autonomy and self-determination, which can lead to suppressed anger and subconscious constant distraction, especially as the wearing of masks is mostly dictated and ordered by others.3,4 These perceived interferences of integrity, self-determination and autonomy, coupled with discomfort, often contribute to substantial distraction and may ultimately be combined with the physiologically mask-related decline in psycho motoric abilities, reduced responsiveness and an overall impaired cognitive performance.
“It leads to misjudging situations as well as delayed, incorrect and inappropriate behavior and a decline in the effectiveness of the mask wearer.”2,5,6,7,8
When something is amiss with the head and face, ones wellbeing can be easily affected. Kisielinski continues:
“The use of masks for several hours often causes further detectable adverse effects such as headaches, local acne, mask-associated skin irritation, itching, sensations of heat and dampness, impairments and discomfort predominantly affecting the head and face.2,4,5,9,10,11,12,13 However, the head and face are significant for wellbeing due to their large representation in the sensitive cerebral cortex (homunculus).”2
Fear and insecurity can be caused by mask wearing — in children, as well as in adults. Kisielinski points this out:
“According to a questionnaire survey, masks also frequently cause anxiety and psychovegetative stress reactions in children – as well as in adults — with an increase in psychosomatic and stress-related illnesses and depressive self-experience, reduced participation, social withdrawal and lowered health-related self-care.14 Over 50% of the mask wearers studied had at least mild depressive feelings.14
Not only do the masks themselves induce fear and other psychological and physiological harm, but the media coverage and commentary from medical and public health professionals on the topic add to the fear. As Kisielinski writes here, this fear-inducing behavior creates “a social dynamic that seems partly unfounded from a medical and scientific point of view”
“Additional fear-inducing and often exaggerated media coverage can further intensify this. A recent retrospective analysis of the general media in the context of the 2014 Ebola epidemic showed a scientific truth content of only 38% of all publicly published information.15 Researchers classified a total of 28% of the information as provocative and polarizing and 42% as exaggerating risks. In addition, 72% of the media content aimed to stir up health-related negative feelings. The feeling of fear, combined with insecurity and the primal human need to belong,16 causes a social dynamic that seems partly unfounded from a medical and scientific point of view.”
This is not entirely lost on public health officials either, that the mask is so tied to one’s psychological wellbeing and sense of belonging. That detail is used to pressure compliance. As Kisielinski shows:
“The mask, which originally served purely hygienic purpose, has been transformed into a symbol of conformity and pseudo-solidarity. The WHO, for example, lists the advantages of the use of masks by healthy people in public to include a potentially reduced stigmatization of mask wearers, a sense of contribution to preventing the spread of the virus and a reminder to comply with other measures.”17
Here, a mere tip of the iceberg is shown by the wearing of a face mask. The psychological harm is poorly understood and is likely considerable.
Kisielinski K, Giboni P, Prescher A, et al. Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021;18(8):4344. doi:10.3390/ijerph18084344.
Johnson, A.T. Respirator Masks Protect Health but Impact Performance: A Review. J. Biol. Eng. 2016, 10, 4.
Rains, S.A. The Nature of Psychological Reactance Revisited: A Meta-Analytic Review. Hum. Commun. Res. 2013, 39,47–73.
Matusiak, Ł.; Szepietowska, M.; Krajewski, P.; Białynicki-Birula, R.; Szepietowski, J.C. Inconveniences Due to the Use of Face Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey Study of 876 Young People. Dermatol. Ther. 2020, 33, e13567.
Rosner, E. Adverse Effects of Prolonged Mask Use among Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19. J. Infect. Dis. Epidemiol. 2020.
Drechsler, M.; Morris, J. Carbon Dioxide Narcosis. In StatPearls; StatPearls Publishing: Treasure Island, FL, USA, 2020.
Noble, J.; Jones, J.G.; Davis, E.J. Cognitive Function during Moderate Hypoxaemia. Anaesth. Intensive Care 1993, 21,180–184.
Fothergill, D.M.; Hedges, D.; Morrison, J.B. Effects of CO2and N2 Partial Pressures on Cognitive and Psychomotor Performance. Undersea Biomed. Res. 1991, 18, 1–19.
Rebmann, T.; Carrico, R.; Wang, J. Physiologic and Other Effects and Compliance with Long-Term Respirator Use among Medical Intensive Care Unit Nurses. Am. J. Infect. Control 2013, 41, 1218–1223.
Liu, C.; Li, G.; He, Y.; Zhang, Z.; Ding, Y. Effects of Wearing Masks on Human Health and Comfort during the COVID-19 Pandemic. IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 2020, 531, 012034.
Li, Y.; Tokura, H.; Guo, Y.P.; Wong, A.S.W.; Wong, T.; Chung, J.; Newton, E. Effects of Wearing N95 and Surgical Facemasks on Heart Rate, Thermal Stress and Subjective Sensations. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 2005, 78,501–509.
Foo, C.C.I.; Goon, A.T.J.; Leow, Y.; Goh, C. Adverse Skin Reactions to Personal Protective Equipment against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome–a Descriptive Study in Singapore. Contact Dermat. 2006, 55, 291–294.
Hua, W.; Zuo, Y.; Wan, R.; Xiong, L.; Tang, J.; Zou, L.; Shu, X.; Li, L. Short-Term Skin Reactions Following Use ofN95 Respirators and Medical Masks. Contact Dermat. 2020, 83, 115–121.
Prousa, D. Studie zu psychischen und psychovegetativen Beschwerden mit den aktuellen Mund-Nasenschutz-Verordnungen. PsychArchives 2020
Sell, T.K.; Hosangadi, D.; Trotochaud, M. Misinformation and the US Ebola Communication Crisis: Analyzing the Veracity and Content of Social Media Messages Related to a Fear-Inducing Infectious Disease Outbreak. BMC Public Health 2020, 20, 550.
Ryan, R.M.; Deci, E.L. Self-determination theory and the role of basic psychological needs in personality and the organization of behavior. In Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research, 3rd ed.; The Guilford Press: New York, NY, USA,2008; pp. 654–678. ISBN 978-1-59385-836-0.
World Health Organization. WHO-Advice on the Use of Masks in the Context of COVID-19: Interim Guidance, 5 June2020; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2020; Available online: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/332293 (accessed on 7 November 2020)
The bestselling book "Face Masks In One Lesson" by Allan Stevo describes how to never wear a face mask again. The follow-up to the book, "Face Masks Hurt Kids," describes why to never wear a face mask again. We must defeat the awful, narrative around the mandates.
Examples of how face masks hurt kids will be posted to the Lockdown Land Substack each morning by 6am Eastern until the narrative around this ineffective and harmful medical intervention has shifted. Face masks are, in fact, not just harmful to children. Face masks are harmful to everyone. Thank you so much for helping me circulate this research.