Data Report

I thought it interesting to google the following to see if any such studies exist...

"psychological repercussions from not wearing a mask and catching long covid?"

I received an AI Overview that I find noteworthy enough to mention as follows:


"Not wearing a mask and subsequently contracting Long COVID can result in significant psychological repercussions, particularly feelings of
guilt, shame, anxiety, and depression, which are compounded by the physical symptoms and social stigma associated with the condition.

Psychological Repercussions:

  Guilt and Shame: Individuals who chose not to wear a mask might experience intense guilt for having contracted the illness and potentially exposed others. They may feel a sense of failure for not taking enough precautions, especially if they had previously prided themselves on being responsible. This "COVID shame" can lead to social withdrawal and a reluctance to seek support.
   
  Anxiety and Depression: The uncertainty of the illness and its long-term effects can lead to heightened anxiety and depression. People with Long COVID, regardless of initial mask usage, often report increased rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the chronic nature of the condition, physical limitations, and social isolation.
   
  Self-Blame and Perceived Control: Guilt often stems from a false sense of control; a person's brain may create an illusion of control to feel safe in an unpredictable world. Contracting the virus can shatter this illusion, leading to self-criticism and the thought, "Where did I go wrong?".
   
  Social Stigma: Non-mask wearers were sometimes perceived by the public as selfish or unconcerned for others' health. Catching Long COVID can reinforce this negative external judgment, adding an extra layer of psychological burden and making individuals worry about how they are perceived by friends and family.
   
  Cognitive Impairment: Long COVID itself can cause neurological symptoms like "brain fog" (difficulty thinking or concentrating), sleep problems, and headaches, which directly impact mental health and daily functioning, exacerbating feelings of frustration and helplessness.

  The combination of the physical effects of Long COVID and the mental toll of personal responsibility can have a devastating impact on an individual's overall well-being. Support groups and psychological therapies are recommended to help cope with these complex emotions and symptoms".

The Masked Man
P.S.
On a personal NOTE:...
One can also look up "psychological repercussions from wearing a mask and not catching long covid?"

Personally, Ive been sick before and suffered chronically from asthma and had to get repeated treatment  as a child.. I learned my lesson...I choose none of that... At my age, and seeing what Ive seen, and living through what Ive lived through, I choose to mask rather than even remotely run the risk of repeating that chronic illness experience I lived through as a child... I might have views about the world in regards to how unhealthy society is as a whole that might not be shared by everyone.. I mask to prevent possibilities I am right. That is; I mask just incase my gut instincts are right.

I'd rather choose the lesser of two evils and simply mask... I can deal with whatever social stigma and psychological repercussions come from wearing a mask and being safer from long covid and a host of other airborne illnesses and diseases  which currently still thrive according to the numerous health condition and wastewater reports I see across this nation and the world.

Speaking for myself I chose masking over these diseases any day! To me,  life isn't a beauty contest or a popularity contest. Life is about being safe in the long run! To me its easier to remedy psychological repercussions at a later date while a diseases that are still amongst us can have a long term irreversible physical impact and damage.

To me this is true:
1) most PTSD and psychological repercussions are treatable
While,
2) Many long term physical repercussions from diseases are not always treatable are sometimes irreversible and carry psychological repercussions as well.

To me the mask is just a beautiful tool I use all the time that makes the world safer for me and more beautiful to behold.

It might be worth mentioning I currently live in the US and that it should be taken into account many cultures uses safety masks. Asians, especially in Japan, China and Taiwan, have have adopted mask usage in their countries and cultures  and so that type of social stigma doesn't occur in those countries. My hopes are that education and time will reduce stigma and so called phycological repercussions of masking more and more in the U.S.

The world no doubt still faces and will continue to face the ramifications of what every modern society and the world over is facing. We currently are in the midst of covid, avian flu as well as other viruses such as whooping cough etc.not to mention various occupational hazards, pollution and overall poor air conditions. Its a small world after all... I dare say more power, success, and good health to those who face these very real conditions in a safety mask!


Extra food for thought/ extra sources:

This is just a small taste a small sample of things that are occuring daily:

Just think some average town with 30% kids& and staff sick!??That's an astronomical number that could easily happen anywhere..c'mon 30%!? that's huge! ...

*An official with the Moulton-Udell School District, in Appanoose County, told KCCI about 30% of students and staff are out — many with influenza A.*
LINK:
https://www.datareport.info/2025-tracking-threads/20252026-us-school-illness-tracking-thread/msg4534/?topicseen#new

And then 70 vultures dead on a campus..if that isn't an omen than what is? Ive never even seen that in a horror movie... (can you believe this stuff isn't on worldwide news!? what's crazier and more scary than that!?) You can't ignore 70 vultures dropping dead on school campus!? No one in their right mind is going to convince me its okay to go maskless around 70 dead vultures! They are big birds typically  capable of eating the meat off old carcasses... Those 70 creatures/bodies are dead on the campus lawn as anything and who is to say we aren't next?

Over 70 Vultures Found Dead, Likely Due to Bird Flu, on Campus of School
Health and wildlife officials are testing the remains due to the “unique circumstance” on the campus of St. Bernadette School in Ohio.
LINK:
https://www.datareport.info/2025-tracking-threads/2025-us-hpai-tracking-thread/msg4529/?topicseen#new

..To not be masked around the  aforementioned stuff above that keeps occurring is lunacy and suicidal. I'm 55 and people aren't paying attention...if almost half the people in your school might have influenza then that's a living nightmare If you aren't masked  than you must be going mentally insane with fear!. Thats is a first in my life: 70 vultures dead on a school campus like I said .. wear a mask and make it popular to not breathe in dead animals! When carnivores such as vultures that are known to pick the meat off the bones of the dead drop dead on a college campus then don't worry about psychological repercussions of masking...its time to mask!

Steve,
you are my hero! You inspire me! There is intelligent life form out there after all because there is you that wears a mask!

It's just awesome that because you had your mask on you likely broke the chain of events contagious illness brings... you can sleep at night knowing you probably beat that hell of getting sick and  you can also rest assured  you won't give it to anybody else either!

It's awesome power what the mask can do.. you know.. like you broke an evil curse.. You didn't breathe the stupid germs in, you circumvented and thwarted a virus; o microscopic entity, and ended its torture before it began. That's awesome! This is so praiseworthy..  a skill that rarely anyone possesses. More people should be like you. I will never underestimate the virtues and magic of the safety mask. The mask is a lifesaver. The maskless live in the dark ages and don't know what they are missing out on. The mask actually frees a person up. The mask frees me up of certain problems so I don't have to worry nearly as much... and simply not having to worry as much makes wearing the mask well worth it.

You having your mask on is as if you had your bullet proof vest on and got shot there in the chest and survived because of your bulletproof vest! Like you had a helmet on and took a spill on motorcycle and having that helmet on saved you from permanent brain damage.

Who knows how many times that mask has saved your hide as well as mine!

It gives me great strength to know you are making good use of the mask!

It is an honor and psychologically healing to hear from you !

Thank you for all you do and speaking up on behalf of the mask, You are no fool!

There but for the grace of the mask go I,
The Masked Man

P.S.
on recent visit to hospital I saw to it all nurses and doctors  wore masks when they approached  my loved one and I who also wore masks, and sure enough at least one of their workers was coughing their head off down the hallway for a few hours straight. No doubt my masking policy saved me and my loved one’s hide on that occasion. Also we wore masks while visiting regular MD  where we sat not far from someone sick and coughing in waiting room… can’t tell you how many times the mask saved me and loved one!

Recently had cable technician come to fix my cable. I wore a mask and set modem up outside so he wouldn’t enter our home.. sure enough he was clearing his throat excessively while working outside.. I had my trusty mask on and was able to work from a safe distance from him… keeping him outside our home and fixing cable.

My loved one is immunocompromised and elderly but maybe she isn't as elderly as we think because we mask.. we might very well outlive the maskless who are younger at this rate of success we are having because of our masking! Is a 77 year old considered elderly if they mask and don't catch a single airborne illness or disease and live to be over a hundred years old? That's the plan anyway!

It's all relative one has to ask who lives longer and happier? a maskless person in middle age or whatever age is gonna age faster and become more elderly quicker by going maskless and catching covid every season or a senior citizen in relative good health who masks and doesn't catch anything during the next decades to come? 

Anyway The mask is my lifesaver!