Yawning and can’t get a deep breath

[Moveonup1]

Hello, over the last 6 months (on and off) I’ve been experiencing yawning to try and get a deep breath, it’s coincided with a period of stress, seems to happen more at night or if I’m undistracted. So hoping it’s anxiety but of course if you google it you think you’re at deaths door. Sometimes mainly at night my heart beats really strongly and fast. Has anyone else been through or is going through this? I will book a doctors appointment, really worried it’s a prob with my lungs or a heart condition x

[AnnieBees]

This exact thing started happening to me when I was working a very stressful job. I started having trouble taking deep-enough breaths and was constantly yawning. Like you, I was terrified something was wrong with my lungs - but then I realized that it wasn't happening over the weekend, only during the work week. Then I googled around and discovered that stress-related yawning is a very common symptom! It went away after a while, but it was very unpleasant.

It's not a bad idea to get examined anyway, if only for your own peace of mind, but yes - this is a well-known symptom of stress.

[Moveonup1 in reply to AnnieBees]

Thanks for replying, that’s reassuring. Yes it’s coincided with a few stressful things and once you’ve noticed it, it then stresses you out more so I’m finding it’s self perpetuating! I will go and get checked out to put my mind at rest x

[pink83737]

Yep I know how you feel, please try not to worry it will only make you feel worse and make the symptoms worse, have you tried mindfulness? I’m sure it could help you!!

[Moveonup1 in reply to pink83737]

Thank you, yes I’ve tried it a couple times but I need to give it another go definitely x

[keptainicandozatt]

Hello moveonup,

I'm currently experiencing this.I feel like I can't catch a deep breathe and when I finally manage to do so,I feel relieved.It ends up straining my shoulders and back a lot and it feels worse each time I try to take a deep breathe. Which makes me yawn a lot to try and catch it.I did go to a doctor,so it'd be good to do so to put your mind at ease!

[Funkyfaerie]

Apparently I learned when suffering this, that yawning is the body's instinctive way of getting itself a deep breath, when you are panicking or hyperventilating. Now I understand it, it doesn't worry me anymore.