Anxiety makes me yawn and feel out of breath

This makes me think about how anxiety can manifest in the most unexpected ways. Lately, I’ve noticed that when my anxiety levels rise, I start yawning a lot and even feel a bit short of breath. It’s such a strange combination, and honestly, it’s been a bit unsettling.

I remember one day I was in a meeting, and out of nowhere, I found myself yawning multiple times. I wasn’t tired; I was actually feeling quite anxious. It’s almost like my body was trying to cope with the nervous energy, but all it did was draw even more attention to me. I could see people looking over, probably wondering what was going on. It’s embarrassing, to say the least.

What’s interesting is that I’ve started to connect these physical sensations with my emotional state. It’s as if my body is sending me little signals that I need to slow down and take a breath. And speaking of breathing, that shortness of breath can be really alarming. It’s easy to spiral into worse thoughts when I feel that tightness in my chest. Sometimes I find myself thinking, “Is this a panic attack?” or “What if something is really wrong?”

However, I’ve found that acknowledging these feelings helps me regain control. When I start to feel that yawning or that breathlessness creeping in, I try to pause and focus on my breathing. Deep, slow breaths can shift the energy a bit. It might sound cliché, but grounding techniques really do make a difference. I also remind myself that these sensations are just a part of my anxiety, not a reflection of my reality.

I’d love to hear if anyone else has experienced something similar. How do you cope when your body seems to react in ways that surprise you? It’s comforting to know we’re not alone in this journey.