Short Stuff: Incomplete Yawns

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: This short Stuff You Should Know segment explains incomplete yawning and what may cause it, from stress and anxiety to possible nervous-system dysfunction. It also offers practical ways to trigger a complete yawn—like opening your mouth wide or using contagious cues—while warning against deep breathing, which can worsen anxiety and make yawning harder. The hosts also note related conditions such as disappearing yawns and excessive yawning.

Main Topics: What incomplete yawning feels like (Priority: 5/5): The hosts discuss the frustrating experience of starting a yawn but not reaching the satisfying end, comparing it to a sneeze that never arrives. Anhedonia and the biology of yawning (Priority: 5/5): They explain that researchers call the frustration from an incomplete yawn 'anhedonia' in this context, and connect yawning to incomplete relaxation, cortisol, and the central nervous system. Stress, anxiety, and muscle relaxation (Priority: 4/5): A major explanation offered is that stress or anxiety can prevent the facial and breathing muscles from fully relaxing, interrupting the yawn's final stretch. Possible neurological dysfunction (Priority: 4/5): The episode notes that persistent inability to complete yawns can sometimes indicate central nervous system issues or problems related to cortisol regulation. Ways to complete a yawn (Priority: 4/5): The hosts share practical tips such as opening the mouth wide and using contagious triggers like seeing, hearing, or reading about yawning. What not to do: deep breathing (Priority: 4/5): They caution that repeated deep breaths may backfire by increasing hyperventilation and anxiety, making complete yawning even harder. Other yawning-related conditions (Priority: 3/5): The episode briefly mentions diminished/disappearing yawns as a possible Parkinson's indicator and excessive yawning as disruptive and medically notable.

Key Arguments: Incomplete yawning is a real, recognized phenomenon and can be genuinely frustrating rather than trivial. The last part of a yawn is the most satisfying and depends on relaxation of facial and respiratory muscles. Stress and anxiety can interfere with the body's ability to complete a yawn. An inability to complete yawns repeatedly may sometimes point to central nervous system dysfunction or cortisol-related issues. Opening the mouth wide and waiting can sometimes trigger completion of the yawn. Contagious yawning cues—such as hearing or reading the word 'yawn'—may help initiate a yawn. Deep breathing is not a reliable fix and may worsen the problem by increasing anxiety or hyperventilation. A loss of rewarding yawning sensation and excessive yawning are both worth noting as potential medical signals.

Data Points: Yawns counted while reading the promo copy: 6 or 7 - Chuck estimates how many times he yawned while reading the ad copy. Yawns counted by the host more broadly: a bunch / more than 6 or 7 - Chuck says he yawned more often than the initial estimate after thinking about it. Episode references to ways yawning spreads: contagious and suggestible - The hosts describe yawning as something that can be triggered by others or by cues. Duration of excessive yawning cases: days and weeks at a time - They mention extreme cases where people yawn repeatedly for long periods.

Pivotal Quotes: "Everyone knows yawning is contagious." — Josh: Introduces the topic and frames yawning as a shared, triggerable behavior. "It almost has the same effect of the sneeze that never happens." — Chuck: Compares an incomplete yawn to a sneeze that is never completed, capturing the frustration. "You need to get what's coming your way." — Josh: A playful way of describing the urge to complete an interrupted yawn.

Implications: Listeners learn that repeated incomplete yawning is often benign but can reflect stress or, less commonly, neurological issues. Simple cue-based techniques may help, while deep breathing may worsen symptoms.