Tip For Anyone With Sensory Sensitivities Regarding Face Masks: Mask Brackets!

Tip for anyone with sensory sensitivities regarding face masks: Mask Brackets!

Hey everyone! I haven't seen any mention of these things regarding sensory processing issues, and they help me a lot so I figured I'd make a post about them!

These are mask brackets! They're worn inside face masks, and their intended purpose is to keep the fabric of the mask away from the nose and mouth (similarly to how a N95 mask is molded).

I personally struggle with face masks because the feeling of fabric on my face irritates me a lot (I can't wear hats or scarves either) and it often feels unsanitary because the irritation makes my nose very runny. I also encounter the common problem of my brain tricking itself into thinking I can't breathe (even though the mask doesn't inhibit breathing at all) and as a result I get out of breath and nauseous. I've seen a few articles aimed at helping neurodivergent people wear masks, but most of them are aimed at children and are more aimed at the discomfort of wearing them over ears (which I get as well, but I've found much easier solutions for that).

But recently, I discovered mask brackets! Since they keep the fabric away from your nose and mouth, and they're pretty darn cheap off of Amazon, I decided to try them out after a bit of research, and I'm glad I did! They've improved my sensory issues a lot!

This is what mine look like. I ordered ten off of Amazon for around ten U.S. dollars. There are a few different styles available, the most common being the ones like these, with a cross in the middle

I chose the style I did because I was worried about the other styles like the one above coming too far of the face. If the bracket causes the edge of the mask to have gaps and not touch the face, it could defeat the purpose of the mask, which isn't what I want. I don't know if the deeper brackets would actually do that, but I got the more shallow type just in case.

The brackets themselves are made out of a thick, but still mildly flexible plastic. They say they're made out of silicone but I'm pretty sure it's actually a blend of silicone and something else because it's not as soft and flexible as silicone. They don't scratch my face, though you can definitely feel that's it's there. It's much better of a feeling than the mask, though!

The benefits- It keeps the mask from irritating my nose, so it doesn't get runny and gross ten minutes into wearing it. Since it stays away from my mouth, it's much easier to talk, and my voice is much less muffled which is good for when I'm in school. I haven't felt nauseous while wearing it either, which was a common problem for me without it for some reason.

The downsides- They often need to be adjusted since they can move around in the mask; Mine tend to slide down into my chin, especially if I yawn or sneeze. I believe they are meant more for pleated face masks unlike the Olsen style I usually wear, so this could be part of the problem. They also could irritate your face if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to the plastic, so I'd recommend you test them out at home before you go out wearing one. The last downside is that the only places I can find them for a good price is on Amazon, and I haven't seen any in physical stores at all.

Overall, these really help me! I'm going to keep looking for other styles and maybe try to figure out a DIY version that does the same thing. If you want to try these out, make sure you do your research and look at different styles to find one that doesn't make the mask defective and works for you!

my awesome new deltarune theory

happy wei wuxian morning i cant be stopped

hey! i’m kicking off the #ADHDInvasion hashtag for adhd awareness month with a comic about CONSEQUENCES, and how my lifelong failure to react to them has been a huge source of frustration for me and for the ppl in my life who rely on me. even worse, it makes me seem apathetic or careless to others, when in reality it weighs really heavily on me - i just struggle to show it.

the best way i’ve found to deal with this is accepting that shame-based motivation DOES NOT WORK AT ALL for me (which is hard to do, when it’s all that’s been modeled for you by parents/educators/bosses) and try to replace fear/shame based consequences with positive outcomes: i.e. instead of “everyone will be so disappointed in me if i don’t do this,” sometimes it’s more helpful to think “if i do this on time, i’ll feel so relieved, and everyone will be happy that i pulled through.”

check out the roster here and make sure you don’t miss the comics from all the other artists participating!

My @stimtastic is flaking 😭😭 It had a small texture flaw when I first got it in the same place and I think that's what caused to to start ripping like this. Now whenever I chew it tiny silicone shreds end up in my throat 😔😔 I'll have to buy another one at some point; I have the cactus chew as well to get that nice back of the mouth chewing with but I like how subtle the dulcimer is.

Yes, absolutely it is a thing! I stim so aggressively when I hear really good music that I have broken by bed frame three times in the past two years.

Is stimming with music a thing?

Like I don’t ordinarily handflap or spin or whatnot, but when I’m jamming absol-fucking-lutely. All dat gud shit right there.