If a person experiences a lot of anxiety, they may find themselves yawning more often than other people, or more often than when they are not feeling as anxious. Anxiety-related yawning often gets worse when a person feels more anxious, but it can also arise with no obvious trigger.

Excessive yawning may mean that you are tired, drowsy, or fatigued. However, it can also be a sign of a medical condition, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or a reaction to a medication. If you find you are yawning excessively, it may be best to schedule an appointment with a doctor to determine the cause.

And if the shortness of breath immediately follows a stressful event emotionally, it's a good bet that its anxiety-related. Being able to come out of the difficult breathing episode within 10-20 minutes is also a good sign as many other breathing-related physical conditions require medical interventions.