Excessive Yawning and Constant Need to Breathe Deep
Posted , 480 users are following.
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.
27 likes, 1426 replies
mary85914 FlutterbyPie
Posted
This is 100% anxiety related. It's an anxiety disorder along the lines of having OCD or having a tic. The feeling of needing to take the deep breath is the anxiety and taking the deep breath is the compulsion to reduce the anxiety that has manifested as the feeling of needing the deep breath ( a vicious cycle). At some stage the deep breath has relieved your anxiety and it has now become a habit which is now the problem. You need to take the anxiety out of the deep breath by just accepting that that's what you do - who gives a sh** that you take a deep breath - it doesn't hurt anyone else or you (if it was life threatening it would have got you by now). Once you accept that this is your thing (and in the scheme of things that people get/do it's not that bad) you will find that you need to do it less and less. If you do need to take a deep breath just do it!!! It doesn't matter everybody does it (it's just that everyone else doesn't even have a second thought about doing it). Don't get anxious about it - take the breath and move on it doesn't matter. Stick with it - your thinking will change quicker than you think. It may only take a week or so and you'll start noticing a difference in how long you can go between deep breaths and also how that anxiety manifesting in your chest lowers and lowers. When it gets to a stage where you feel you can just sit with the anxiety without taking the breath do it for as long as you can (but if you need to take the breath again just do it it doesn't matter). You need to tell the anxiety that you don't care and to f*** off!! If you've had this for years or are really struggling a very low dose of amitriptyline as I've noticed some people have taken is a good thing just to take the edge off and get you in the mindset where you can help yourself, it will also help you sleep. I hope this goes someway to helping someone - it's a process and you'll have good and bad days but it will work if you stick with it.
sarah4336 mary85914
Posted
While I'm sure this is true for some, I don't believe everyone here has the same issue. The causes of air hunger are varied and include anemia, anxiety, hypothyroidism, mitral valve prolapse, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary embolism, to name a few. So many things can cause air hunger, some of which may not be apparent without invasive testing. To claim a pat solution to all cases across the board of this non-specific symptom isn't helpful.
mary85914 sarah4336
Posted
Just trying to help!! Obviously (or maybe I should have said this as it wasn't obvious) if you've been to the doctor and had the necessary tests (which by scanning these comments most people seem to have had) and been told by a doctor there's nothing medically wrong with you there's a very very high chance it is anxiety. Some people on here have actually been told it's anxiety and still don't seem to believe it and are looking for some magical medical reason that is going to cure them overnight. Knowledge is power - anxiety is a total b***h but can be overcome. Anxiety can manifest itself as all types of serious illnesses (and often to do with breathing) - if you don't get out of the loop it will just continue and get worse. Take my advice it for what it is - advice.
rita88199 mary85914
Posted
you are 100% right !! this is a form of ocd called sensorimotor ocd and it is like a tic triggered by anxiety
mary85914 rita88199
Posted
I know - weird how people don't want to accept there's something mentally wrong with them but are happy to live with physical symptoms for what seems like years by reading some of these stories waiting for some magic pill to make them better. Exercise your brain - it's just a muscle (like your diaphragm) - there's no shame in it!!!!!
Cantbreath2254 FlutterbyPie
Posted
who relates to me 24/7 gasping every 30 seconds 100% disabled can barely walk into the kitchen fighting for there life... who is that severe they have zero quality of life? or who has came back from that to 100% i feel like this is the wrong forum for me just checking.m because i feel a 24/7 constant need to gulp gasp and yawn for a deep satisfying breath and it comes back after ten seconds of getting 1.. who feels true suffocation but the doctors tell u its nothing and send u home fighting for your life.. this is scary confusing and the whole nine ive commented on here a million times just checking back in with yall.... the desperation is strong... ive tried many things nothing helps...
mary85914 Cantbreath2254
Posted
Have you been to the doctor? have they found anything wrong? Do you sleep ok? How is your breathing when you sleep? I think you need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist and do some CBT and ERP therapy. Sounds like you've got yourself into an extremely bad situation of anxiety and compulsions (taking the deep breath). You need professional help asap and definitely some sort of medication, even just short-term, to calm you down - you'll never get better being that anxious constantly. This sounds like a chronic condition that you are not going to be able to cure yourself or overnight, it is going to take time and professional help.
Cantbreath2254 mary85914
Posted
1 question mary if u cannot breath and you are in the shape im in how wouldn't u be anxious lol.. Not everyone on this forum is loony.. my condition isnt what u think it is.
mary85914 Cantbreath2254
Posted
You're never going to get better if you think what I'm saying means you're 'loony'!!!! Many many people have anxiety (OCD, tics, panic attacks) and lead totally normal lives. If you've had every medical test under the sun and you're being told there's nothing PHYSICALLY wrong with you why not try treating your mental state. Sounds like you've got nothing to lose by the way you're living at the moment!! You've got totally the wrong attitude - of course you are anxious because you feel you can't breath but the feeling of not being able to take a deep breath is ANXIETY!!! If I was in your position there is no way I'd be blantantly ruling anything out - my advice to you would still be to go and see a psychiatrist - you need urgent help and medication. Your choice - 'gasping for breath every 30 seconds 100% disabled' (your words) or living a normal life.
Cantbreath2254 mary85914
Posted
how do i go see a psychiatrist when im so sick i cant even shower everyday let alone speak effectively with my voice.. its fine u don't get it
alexis56680 mary85914
Posted
What makes you the expert, Mary? And why are you here if you have it all figured out?
mary85914 Cantbreath2254
Posted
Well I don't know but you have to do something - get someone to carry you to the car and drive you there. If I was in your position I'd be doing anything and everything - what's the other option??? Continuing on everyday like you are. You need to help yourself get help otherwise nothing is going to change!!!
mary85914 alexis56680
Posted
Why is everyone so defensive!!! I'm not an expert just offering a point of view - isn't that what a forum like this all about!!! Geez I'm just here to try and help but can't believe people take it all so personally!!
Cantbreath2254 mary85914
Posted
because your telling people its in there head
mary85914 Cantbreath2254
Posted
I give up!!! Good luck finding a magic pill to make you better.
silentboy mary85914
Posted
Its not psychosomatic. Believe me. Even on rest and thinking about nothing this symptom happen to us.
vicky60291 Cantbreath2254
Posted
Hi , have you had your vitamin D levels checked , or B complex . Low vitamin levels so do as you described especially low vitamin D levels . It is torture what that can cause your body and mind to go through . Please have them checked .. Praying for you to get better soon
jesse71370 Cantbreath2254
Posted
hey man, i just want to say good luck and dont stop trying. see a psychotherapist. see everyone. get damn spiritual. i have suffered something along the lines of what you are going through for years, and yeah there were months where i didnt get out of bed because sleep was my only relief. i lost my jobs, and girlfriend over this. i still run out of breath every time i speak no matter how hard i try , which is the worst part. keep trying man, theres a way out of this you just gotta be resilient.