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Straining to complete yawn, yawning all day, feel i just need a deep breath.
I have had this problem for a long time, but in the last year it has gotten worse and I cant stand it. I regularly go through periods where I feel the need to yawn or get a deep breath and I just cant. I try and try over and over to yawn (causing me to get head aches), and finally accomplish it just to need to yawn again. I am a sleepy person all the time, but the straining to yawn thing makes me crazy! I also have increasingly bad short term memory problems (at only 25), could this be connected to the yawning, and lack of oxygen to the brain? could I have asthma? thank you so much for any help you can give me.
Didn't read all the comments, but have had this problem for years and recently figured it out (at least for myself) - and after SOB-induced panic attacks, feels worth sharing.
I'm fairly confident that this problem is almost 100% caused (initially) by chest-breathing and poor posture. It worsens with anxiety, lack of sleep, etc.
A couple years ago I started lifting weights, and with my increased pec/breathing muscle strength, it gave my poor hypertrophied anterior neck muscles a break, and breathing got better about 25% of the time.
A couple months ago, I realized how bad my posture was getting, and spent several days squeezing my shoulder blades together - hard, really contracting my rhomboids - and breathing got better almost 100% of the time.
I was so happy to figure out the problem, but kind of pissed that such a simple solution could have decreased so much stress/anxiety/physical discomfort for years.
Belly breathing helps too, but like holding my shoulders back and squeezing the blades together, it doesn't happen naturally for me, so these are things I'm constantly practicing. Over time, building up the right strength should do the trick, but until then, it's great to be able to just relax, put my shoulders back (think about how this opens up your chest, aligns your neck/head, and allows your lungs to expand), and take a deep and full breath. Hope this helps anyone looking for relief.
I'm fairly confident that this problem is almost 100% caused (initially) by chest-breathing and poor posture. It worsens with anxiety, lack of sleep, etc.
A couple years ago I started lifting weights, and with my increased pec/breathing muscle strength, it gave my poor hypertrophied anterior neck muscles a break, and breathing got better about 25% of the time.
A couple months ago, I realized how bad my posture was getting, and spent several days squeezing my shoulder blades together - hard, really contracting my rhomboids - and breathing got better almost 100% of the time.
I was so happy to figure out the problem, but kind of pissed that such a simple solution could have decreased so much stress/anxiety/physical discomfort for years.
Belly breathing helps too, but like holding my shoulders back and squeezing the blades together, it doesn't happen naturally for me, so these are things I'm constantly practicing. Over time, building up the right strength should do the trick, but until then, it's great to be able to just relax, put my shoulders back (think about how this opens up your chest, aligns your neck/head, and allows your lungs to expand), and take a deep and full breath. Hope this helps anyone looking for relief.
1 Comments
Caused by a lack of Vitamin B-1 - look it up.
In order to overcome these issues quickly you need a loading dose of B-1 or go take a B complex for a month and see if it helps.
The answer is so simple. We are lacking essential vitamins.
In order to overcome these issues quickly you need a loading dose of B-1 or go take a B complex for a month and see if it helps.
The answer is so simple. We are lacking essential vitamins.
Thank you!!
Its 5am and I still can't yawn.
I am literally ticking every theory of cause! anxiety,increased medication,a spasmed neck,meaning air is trapped and can't run down the spine as well a raised body temperature and rubbing my feet raw.
I did Art of living years ago and have been meaning to do a refresher course to re- learn the breathing and here it is!
Thank you!
Its 5am and I still can't yawn.
I am literally ticking every theory of cause! anxiety,increased medication,a spasmed neck,meaning air is trapped and can't run down the spine as well a raised body temperature and rubbing my feet raw.
I did Art of living years ago and have been meaning to do a refresher course to re- learn the breathing and here it is!
Thank you!
You may be experiencing low level hyperventilation. I have dealt with this same exact feeling on and off again for 20 years. I didn't know how to stop it, sometimes it seemed related to anxiety but not always. Sometimes I would go for months without the feeling but it would always come back. It was irritating and frightening. Recently my husband found some information that put me on the right track. Previously I had thought that I was yawning because I "needed" a deep breath so I would often focus on taking calm, deep breath and completely expelling my breath, etc. But apparently all this time, I've been hyperventilating and my CO2 and Oxygen levels have been out of whack. What I needed to do was take regular, shallow breaths and resist the urge to fill my lungs.
The method I used is called Buteyko: 1) take a control pause - breath out completely and then pinch your nose and hold your breath as long as you comfortably can - 30 seconds is good but you will probably not be anywhere close to that. 2) Put your finger under your nose so you can feel your breath (not blocking it), now breath regularly and shallowly for 5 minutes. At first I felt like I was drowning during this step but my panic subsided after maybe a minute, probably less - it's just that I thought I needed a deep breath. 3) Now do another control pause - you may be able to hold your breath longer but don't worry if you can't yet. 4) Repeat the cycle three times twice a day.
My breathing has been messed up for 20 years and I did this exercise routine for two days and I am literally fine now. I don't want to jinx it but whenever I feel that need to yawn coming on, I can easily focus on shallow breathing and the urge goes away. And I AM able to yawn normally. I really hope this helps you because I know how awful it is to struggle with this problem. Good luck!
The method I used is called Buteyko: 1) take a control pause - breath out completely and then pinch your nose and hold your breath as long as you comfortably can - 30 seconds is good but you will probably not be anywhere close to that. 2) Put your finger under your nose so you can feel your breath (not blocking it), now breath regularly and shallowly for 5 minutes. At first I felt like I was drowning during this step but my panic subsided after maybe a minute, probably less - it's just that I thought I needed a deep breath. 3) Now do another control pause - you may be able to hold your breath longer but don't worry if you can't yet. 4) Repeat the cycle three times twice a day.
My breathing has been messed up for 20 years and I did this exercise routine for two days and I am literally fine now. I don't want to jinx it but whenever I feel that need to yawn coming on, I can easily focus on shallow breathing and the urge goes away. And I AM able to yawn normally. I really hope this helps you because I know how awful it is to struggle with this problem. Good luck!
http://www.familydoctor.co.nz/index.asp?U=conditions&A=32893
The good news is HVS/Breathing Pattern Disorders are just that -- a disorder not a disease. The bad news is that it takes time, patience, and practice, practice, practice. There is no instant cure.
As you learn to normalize your breathing and so restore balanced carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, the unpleasant symptoms associated with over-breathing will subside. You can enjoy life again!
Getting help
Your doctor will be able to help.
B r e a t h i n g Works - Breathing Pattern Disorders Clinic and Resource Centre. Auckland. Tel 09 5221122.
Useful books;
Hyperventilation Syndrome/Breathing Pattern Disorders.
· Dinah Bradley (Random House 2007.)3rd edition.) (Kyle Cathie UK 2006)
· Breathing Works for Asthma. Dinah Bradley & Tania Clifton-Smith (Random House 2003)
· Breathe Stretch & Move. Dinah Bradley & Tania Clifton-Smith (Random House 2005)
· Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders. Leon Chaitow, Dinah Bradley. Christopher Gilbert (Churchill Livingstone 2002
The good news is HVS/Breathing Pattern Disorders are just that -- a disorder not a disease. The bad news is that it takes time, patience, and practice, practice, practice. There is no instant cure.
As you learn to normalize your breathing and so restore balanced carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, the unpleasant symptoms associated with over-breathing will subside. You can enjoy life again!
Getting help
Your doctor will be able to help.
B r e a t h i n g Works - Breathing Pattern Disorders Clinic and Resource Centre. Auckland. Tel 09 5221122.
Useful books;
Hyperventilation Syndrome/Breathing Pattern Disorders.
· Dinah Bradley (Random House 2007.)3rd edition.) (Kyle Cathie UK 2006)
· Breathing Works for Asthma. Dinah Bradley & Tania Clifton-Smith (Random House 2003)
· Breathe Stretch & Move. Dinah Bradley & Tania Clifton-Smith (Random House 2005)
· Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders. Leon Chaitow, Dinah Bradley. Christopher Gilbert (Churchill Livingstone 2002
I just wanted to add, that this started when I was went through a period of extreme stress in my life - lost my job, was broke, etc. and that's when it started. Doc put me on anti-anxiety meds and Priolsec for 2 weeks. I went on an alkaline diet, went for a quiet walk twice a day, did breathing excercises and it cleared up pretty fast. Got a new job, kept up the good habits, no problems. A few months ago, fell out of good habits back into bad ones, some personal problems and stress building and bam, back to these problems again. And as I get back into good habits it goes away.
I also forgot to mention that I'm a bit iron deficient naturally and that can add to this - so you should get your blood iron levels tested, be aware of signs of anemia, get your serotonin and other levels all checked out too - complete workup, ECG, MRI, et al to rule out anything - MRIs can detect low serotonin and other problems. And go see an ENT to get checked for chronic sinusitis - a contributing factor to this problem, As well as a upper GI endoscopy.
So remember, as mentioned in my above post, good habits are really the key to beating this. Keep your chin up, you'll make out ok. :)
I also forgot to mention that I'm a bit iron deficient naturally and that can add to this - so you should get your blood iron levels tested, be aware of signs of anemia, get your serotonin and other levels all checked out too - complete workup, ECG, MRI, et al to rule out anything - MRIs can detect low serotonin and other problems. And go see an ENT to get checked for chronic sinusitis - a contributing factor to this problem, As well as a upper GI endoscopy.
So remember, as mentioned in my above post, good habits are really the key to beating this. Keep your chin up, you'll make out ok. :)
"Hi, I've had this problem for 7 months. My problems include not being able to yawn, a lump in my throat, and not being able to take a deep breath.
#1 I don't know how some of you have lived with this for so long, it's very very frustrating."
I've had the exact same problems off and on for 2 years. And everyone should be relieved to know that these issues are almost always mental and brought on by anxiety. Unfortunately as sophisticated as our brains are they're also very primitive in some respects. Physically it's unlikely anything is wrong with you - but we'll get to that in a sec. Anxiety throws your natural breathing out of whack. Particularly when you're not focused on something so you notice this. And when it happens once - it's because of CO2 - you brain gets into a kind of negative feedback loop. The nore you focus on it, the worse it gets. It can lead to hyperventilation, panic attacks, etc. Now do you notice after a while when you calm down a bit you can then catch a deep breath? There is nothing wrong with your lungs. Just remember that. It's easy to go off on wild tangents thinking it's all kinds of physical problems - it's not, or rather exceedingly unlikely.
As others have mentioned the old breathing in an out of a paper bad - never plastic - can help regulate you're CO2 and calm you down. Belly breathing can help. Focusing on anything else - TV, games, music, reading, etc. Even just going for quiet stroll around the block can help a ton. Drinking stuff like Green or Chamomile tea also helps a ton too.
A massive help is L-Theanine - specifically Suntheanine, which is patented. Some L-Theanines are inert - which is no good. What is it you ask? It's the stuff found in green tea and it really does work - check out the Suntheanine website for more detailed info. In a nutshell it calms you right down but allows you to remain alert - so it's a great way to start off your day. I get mine from Swanson Vitamins online - because they carry Suntheanine very cheaply compared to most health food or vitamin stores. You want the 100mg tabs. 1 to 2 per day. They also carry a "Revitalizing Sleep Formula" you may want to check out - all natural, really good stuff.
Yes, GERD/Acid reflux can contribute to this. All that acid moving up into your esophagus causes that lump in the throat feeling. Antacid helps a lot. But mainly you really need to modify your diet and move from an acidic based to akaline based diet - in short cut out the junk and eat healthy :)
There's tons of info and charts out there on alkaline based diets and foods. You will notice the difference in as little as a week when you make the switch. Every day I drink a green smoothie that's almost completely alkaline based.
Also quit smoking if you haven't - that should be a no brainer. And lay off the booze. It's not so much the physical as the mental. It's a depressant and the last thing you need when you're anxious and/or depressed. When you're feeling better and healthier it's ok in moderation, wine with dinner, social drinks with friends but you should be cutting way back on it.
And speaking of depression, unless that's what you've been diagnosed with then it's anxiety - 2 different things. If your"depressed" because you need a - new/better - job, have money/spouse issues then odds are it's just anxiety and it'll clear up as things get better. However anxiety still causes loss of serotonin and all those other wonderful brain juices that keep us functioning autonomicaly. Try to keep busy too. When you're focused on other stuff all this stuff goes on autopilot so its less of a problem. And when you're honestly tired you'll sleep better anyway.
Excercise. Do it regularly. The reasons are too many to list here but suffice it to say it will not only help with this but every other aspect of your life. I myself row - there's no better combined strength and cardio exercise and I find the rhythm very relaxing.
"#2 Thank you everyone for posting things on here. It helps knowing that I'm not alone. "
You're not alone with this by a long shot so keep the faith, it will get better I promise you. Remember folks, some of it may be genetic, but a lot of it you have the power to control. It wasn't always there, and it's not always there. It's a sometime thing. It's beyond aggravating, depressing and sometimes scary but you can beat it or at least manage it...never forget that. You will, however, have to put some effort in to make that happen.
#1 I don't know how some of you have lived with this for so long, it's very very frustrating."
I've had the exact same problems off and on for 2 years. And everyone should be relieved to know that these issues are almost always mental and brought on by anxiety. Unfortunately as sophisticated as our brains are they're also very primitive in some respects. Physically it's unlikely anything is wrong with you - but we'll get to that in a sec. Anxiety throws your natural breathing out of whack. Particularly when you're not focused on something so you notice this. And when it happens once - it's because of CO2 - you brain gets into a kind of negative feedback loop. The nore you focus on it, the worse it gets. It can lead to hyperventilation, panic attacks, etc. Now do you notice after a while when you calm down a bit you can then catch a deep breath? There is nothing wrong with your lungs. Just remember that. It's easy to go off on wild tangents thinking it's all kinds of physical problems - it's not, or rather exceedingly unlikely.
As others have mentioned the old breathing in an out of a paper bad - never plastic - can help regulate you're CO2 and calm you down. Belly breathing can help. Focusing on anything else - TV, games, music, reading, etc. Even just going for quiet stroll around the block can help a ton. Drinking stuff like Green or Chamomile tea also helps a ton too.
A massive help is L-Theanine - specifically Suntheanine, which is patented. Some L-Theanines are inert - which is no good. What is it you ask? It's the stuff found in green tea and it really does work - check out the Suntheanine website for more detailed info. In a nutshell it calms you right down but allows you to remain alert - so it's a great way to start off your day. I get mine from Swanson Vitamins online - because they carry Suntheanine very cheaply compared to most health food or vitamin stores. You want the 100mg tabs. 1 to 2 per day. They also carry a "Revitalizing Sleep Formula" you may want to check out - all natural, really good stuff.
Yes, GERD/Acid reflux can contribute to this. All that acid moving up into your esophagus causes that lump in the throat feeling. Antacid helps a lot. But mainly you really need to modify your diet and move from an acidic based to akaline based diet - in short cut out the junk and eat healthy :)
There's tons of info and charts out there on alkaline based diets and foods. You will notice the difference in as little as a week when you make the switch. Every day I drink a green smoothie that's almost completely alkaline based.
Also quit smoking if you haven't - that should be a no brainer. And lay off the booze. It's not so much the physical as the mental. It's a depressant and the last thing you need when you're anxious and/or depressed. When you're feeling better and healthier it's ok in moderation, wine with dinner, social drinks with friends but you should be cutting way back on it.
And speaking of depression, unless that's what you've been diagnosed with then it's anxiety - 2 different things. If your"depressed" because you need a - new/better - job, have money/spouse issues then odds are it's just anxiety and it'll clear up as things get better. However anxiety still causes loss of serotonin and all those other wonderful brain juices that keep us functioning autonomicaly. Try to keep busy too. When you're focused on other stuff all this stuff goes on autopilot so its less of a problem. And when you're honestly tired you'll sleep better anyway.
Excercise. Do it regularly. The reasons are too many to list here but suffice it to say it will not only help with this but every other aspect of your life. I myself row - there's no better combined strength and cardio exercise and I find the rhythm very relaxing.
"#2 Thank you everyone for posting things on here. It helps knowing that I'm not alone. "
You're not alone with this by a long shot so keep the faith, it will get better I promise you. Remember folks, some of it may be genetic, but a lot of it you have the power to control. It wasn't always there, and it's not always there. It's a sometime thing. It's beyond aggravating, depressing and sometimes scary but you can beat it or at least manage it...never forget that. You will, however, have to put some effort in to make that happen.
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