Excessive Yawning and Constant Need to Breathe Deep

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For the past few days, I've been yawning a lot, much more than average (once every few minutes I feel the need). If I'm not yawning I'm breathing in as deep as I can to get similar "satisfaction". Often I cannot get the "satisfaction" from these and so the urge grows and grows, meaning it can get quite uncomfortable. When I do manage it, the urge is back a few seconds later. This is whether I'm tired or not, almost all day. 

I'm not particularly anxious about anything in particular, and get the same amount of sleep as before this started. 

This also happened at some point within the past year which continued for a month or two if I remember correctly. 

Does anyone have any idea what it is or how to make it a bit better? 

Thanks.

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  • Posted

    Been having similar issues, there's small moments where I feel the need to yawn or yawn while yawning. This never really occurred to me before. I guess for me it's like taking a big gulp of water and near the end of that gulp, that feeling you get you need air. (Pretty much a similar feeling) I think for me it might be a acid reflux problem, until recently I began with this and it only happened when I've been anxious before. For the past month or so I been having what appears to be IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) usually though to happen due to anxiety related issues or overdulgence of food over a period of time. Anyways that's one analysis from my view point.

  • Posted

    I've had a similar problem. After doing a bit of reading about central apnea, which I also suffer from, I found that the body senses your air levels through some sort of action that occurs near the carotid arteries in the neck. Perhaps not coincidentally, I have a lot of tension and stiff muscles in my neck. So I started stretching and massaging around the sternocleidomastoid. It really helped! My case is probably somewhat unique, as I have central apnea _and_ this breathing problem. But maybe some people just need to get blood to the proper structures in the neck, to get the sensors working properly again. Such a relief to be able to get a good yawn!

  • Posted

    I have just started having this problem sad I am only 18, I have never smoked in my life and have a fairly good diet and get a decent amount of exercise per week. I haven't felt anxious about ANYTHING- the only thing that is making me feel anxious is not being able to breathe properly!!! I had blood tests- nothing x-ray- nothing ECG- slightly high heart rate, and from all that my doctor told me i probably have anxiety. I sometimes have sleepless nights because of this problem and sometimes i just want to sit here and cry because i feel like theres just nothing i can do. It has been 3 weeks now since this started. Anyone had a similar situation that can please help me, im only so youn and i dont want to have to live the rest of my life like this sad

    • Posted

      Hi! I had this problem a few months ago and since I took the following natural medicine I've been great and haven't had this problem again.

      Just add honey bee, margarine and some drops of lemon, all in a spoon, put it into the microwave and then drink it. It must be warm, but not that much so will burn your mouth. It is natural, so you have nothing to worry about. I really hope it solves your situation. smile

    • Posted

      i've had the same Problem ...I Can't sleep till probably 3 in the morning it hurts honestly i thought i was the only one with this problem .. every week my breathing either gets better or worse Which bugs me a lot

    • Posted

      Hey Lucy,

      Not sure if you saw my original post here -- but let me assure you, even though I am not a doctor, that I think physically everything is fine with you.

      I had this problem too, for a long time. I went and got tested and everything checked out -- and yet I felt like I couldn't breathe. It was awful. Probably the worst feeling I have ever had, to be honest.

      I did a lot research and finally found the answer -- you, like I was at the time -- are breathing TOO MUCH.

      "Wait!" I can hear you say. "I'm out of breath, and only get that satisfying feeling of air from yawning...and then a minute later I'm back to being miserable. I'm obviously getting too little air."

      You are taking in too much oxygen, and expelling too much CO2. This is likely occurring completely without your knowing. You mostly likely have hyperventilation syndrome, which is caused by OVERbretahing continuously for many months, without you even realizing it. The cure is very simple and effective. Please do this right now:

      Sit comfortably on your favorite chair or couch. Bring your attention to your breath. Breathe ONLY through your nose, in and out, Ok? Slowly, slowly, patiently and persistently, try to consciously bring less air in. Breathe into your belly, not your chest. But don't take in too much air. Breathe so lightly that you can't hear your breath at all. This will be hard at first -- don't force yourself to do something if it's too uncomfortable. But please, for 10 minutes, just practice this. See how you feel.

      Remeber, you are absolutely getting enough air. That isn't the problem! The problem is that you have been breathing too much!

      -Will

    • Posted

      Hi Will,

      I think you are right!! My problem could be Acid Reflux + breathing in too much.

      When my breathing stuck, I try to breathe slow. Hold my breath, than oxygen can go in.

      Regards,

      Lynn

    • Posted

      Yes, I think that is a great idea! I do that too. I also exercise now only breathing through my nose, and it works wonders. -Will
    • Posted

      Hi Will - I tried this and it worked for me!  I was unable to get a satisfying breath.  I would take deep breaths through my mouth and could rarely get a good deep breath.  I read about this (think it might have been from you) about 3 or 4 months ago, so I tried it.  It worked almost immediately!  Within about 3 days I was almost completely cured!  Once in a while I feel the need for a deep breath and I just take a deep breath through my nose and I feel better.   I feel like my sleep apnea has improved too as a result.  Thanks so much!!
    • Posted

      I'm so glad Julie! It worked so well for me too. I couldn't believe it. I want to scream the answer from the rooftops now haha, because it seems so common these days! 

      No matter what I am doing now, I try to breathe less. And always through the nose. I can't seem to convince my friends and family that they should really start breathing like this -- but that's Ok, they're not there yet. But it's SO effective. And I feel so much better. -Will

    • Posted

      thank you i will definitley give it a go! hopefully this solves my problem!
    • Posted

      I have tried this but while holding my breath in to breathe out slowly, my heart starts to pound like when you have not breathe for a while. How do u overcome this desperate urge and fight against your body? I have tried breathing into a bag and while it helps if I'm doing it, the urge comes back as long as I stop. Really hoping there's a non medicated solution.

  • Posted

    I know this is an old thread but just thought I'd leave my experience of this. I have the exact same thing where I feel I have to keep breathing in to get that satisfying full breath and constantly yawning to get it too. I have suffered with this since I was 6 years old and it's just severe anxiety/panic attack. It comes and goes with me and I am particularly suffering bad with it over the last couple of weeks since switching over anti depressent meds. Docs keep switching my meds so I'm now going back to the original ones I was on which seemed to help my depression/anxiety the best but have to wait for them to kick in again. This breathing/yawning thing is awful to suffer and it happened when I was in the dentists chair of all places last week. I think it's just something I'm always going to have from time to time but obviously having it worse just now due to my meds changing over again😣

    • Posted

      Try switching your soda drinks I know it sounds crazy but I went through this bad and it ended up being mild asthma related to acid reflux I use to think it was anxiety but actually it wasn't but it brought on anxiety that made it worse I went four years drinking sprite no caffeine and it got bad then I switched to coke after going to a lung specialist that assured me I was not having breathing problems from my lungs that it was either acid reflux or mild allergies causing mild asthma it sure has helped me a lot. Maybe it will help you. Good luck and May the lord bless you it sure is an awful feeling it can cause depression and hatefulness trying to cope on your own prayers

    • Posted

      I think you are directly on point of the issue by switching sodas, because Sprite contains sodium benzoate and Coke does not.  I too suffer from the breathing difficulty and pain and inability to catch my breathe.   If you are currently having breathing problems, the slow breathing techniques discussed in this forum do work to reduce the O2 content to bring relief.  I have used these techniques to suffer through some very bad episodes. However, if you want to relieve all trace of the symptoms in just a few days and prevent symptoms from recurring, I believe that eliminating sodium benzoate from your diet may work.  It worked for me. 
    • Posted

      I wonder if the dentist was using a tooth paste or polish on your teeth that contains sodium benzoate?  Most all of the toothpastes on the market do contain some sodium benzoate. That would certainly cause an episode for me.  I believe that sodium benzoate consumption causes these symptoms.  Have you ever corelated the onset of your episodes with eating or drinking?

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