Amy Williamson has been screamed at and followed by strangers around a shopping centre for not wearing a mask.
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This only served to make the mother-of-two children feel even more anxious and frightened.
Having been diagnosed with major anxiety and depression is just one of the reasons why the Koonawarra resident is medically exempt from having to wear a mask.
The 34-year-old also has asthma and complex traumatic stress disorder.
But even though Mrs Williamson carries a medical certificate on her person and phone at all times, this is still not enough for some people, who make her feel like a 'criminal'.
"Some places won't even look at your medical certificate," she said.
"It can get annoying at times. I will even show them the certificate on my phone but they don't care and look away.
"Being treated like this is not nice, and often causes me even more anxiety.
"I feel anxious and worried going to different places as it is because you just never know what's going to happen.
People don't even want to know why you aren't wearing a mask they just jump in and start criticising you.
- Amy Williamson
"The compassion of the people lately has disappeared. People don't even want to know why you aren't wearing a mask they just jump in and start criticising you.
"They'll shout out such things as 'if you can't wear a mask, you should never leave your home', or 'there's a solution to gaining entry, just put a mask on'.
"By the time you try to explain that you have valid medical reasons for not wearing a mask, no one is really listening.
"I remember once when a shopper just followed us around asking aggressively why we weren't wearing masks. It was frightening and I was sick and tired of having to explain myself to everyone."
Mrs Williamson admitted that there were also some positive experiences but the negative times far outweighed the good.
One of the reasons for this was because often she would be out with her children, who were also medically exempt from having to wear masks.
Her eldest is a 17-year-old girl who has "autism, ADHD [Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], ODD [Oppositional Defiant Disorder] and sensory issues".
"We often cop a lot of stares and comments about my daughter," Mrs Williamson said. "it is annoying because for her a sensory overload leads to a meltdown."
Mrs Williamson understood many people were concerned and frightened themselves about COVID and the highly contagious Delta virus.
Though she hoped people would be a bit more understanding and compassionate with each other.
"It would be good if people didn't just assume the worst and asked someone they see not wearing a mask if they are okay. Often they will find the person would rather wear the mask but can't for some valid reason," Mrs Williamson said.
We're actually more panicky than someone wearing a mask, because we are more vulnerable to catching COVID as we can't wear a mask.
"We're actually more panicky than someone wearing a mask, because we are more vulnerable to catching COVID as we can't wear a mask.
"Most people who can't wear a mask will be wanting to talk to you about why they can't, and sometimes this actually sheds light on conditions like autism and post traumatic stress disorder or anxiety or the disability they have within them."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
