The yawn

 A mini-blog/reflective journal, from a self-confessed air-head.

The Yawn

Yawning is an action we commonly associate with tiredness or boredom. I've got a slightly different relationship with the yawn, as well.

Odd urge to yawn

As an adolescent I developed a symptom whereby I felt a continual urge to yawn.  And when I did yawn I felt that I still couldn't get enough oxygen.  I obviously consulted the doctor, tests were done and no physical cause, such as asthma, found.  So, it was attributed to anxiety.  I can't recall exactly when it resolved itself.  But it did, at some stage.

Reoccurrence

Recently, this symptom reoccurred.  I consulted the doctor, again, and it was again attributed to anxiety.  The fact it coincided with palpitations seemed to back this up.  And it was during a stressful period of time for me at work.

A useful tool

More recently still, I learned that the yawn can be consciously utilised as a way to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. So, it's a way to calm down. That could be useful. I've squirrelled it away, along with the knowledge of the 'physiological sigh' (and the Valsalva Maneuver).

The parasympathetic system

Perhaps some part of my subconscious was aware of the yawn-parasympathetic system connection already. And that's why I experienced the symptom of 'needing' to yawn?❔

Trusting our bodies

❓ So, is the yawn also a symbol of how we should listen to and trust our bodies?

Contagiousness?

Then there's the notion that yawning is contagious*. It may be a body language signal to the rest of our 'tribe'. I remember hearing years ago that it was a 'safe to sleep' signal (though I can't recall where).

Alertness?

One item I read online speculated the opposite. Rather than sleepiness, it stated that yawning was a means to becoming more alert. This was because, they argued, yawning comes along with stretching. Thereby keeping the body & muscles ready for action.

Context

Perhaps it depends on the context, therefore. For example, we apparently yawn before retiring and also after rousing. So, whilst winding down & relaxing, and during the waking up process. It's reflexive. It's also thought to cool the brain.

Spiritual connection?

A quick internet search reveals a notion that yawning may be associated (spiritually) with manipulation of energy, by some. I may need to do more research into this, as this was news to me.

Health signs and symptoms

This quick internet search also revealed that excessive yawning can be a symptom of serious health conditions (such as heart attack, brain tumour, serious liver disease or stroke)! I'm very much prone to worrying over my health, so this was alarming. In fact, I experienced an attack of excessive yawning while researching this! (Psychosomatic, I'm sure.)

Relationship with health system

So for me, the yawn has now also become a symbol of my broken-down relationship with the health system here. For years I've been complaining of fatigue and receiving no input from the doctor for this. (Have a read of my G post for more background if you want.)

Feeling let down

Because latterly, having complained of a peculiar new/recurring symptom which was bothering me, a bemused sounding duty GP (during a phone consultation, only) guessed at anxiety as a cause, without any physical exam. And later I've discovered online it could've been something serious, even life-threatening, like my heart!

Still in one piece

I know one shouldn't diagnose oneself from info on a website, and I'm not.  Because this occurred over 6 months ago now (and I'm still here, in one piece).  👍

👌 And admittedly, this happened during the pandemic (though, not a lockdown). So the phone consult was, at the time, the best way to go to minimise potential exposure to the virus.

Could've gone the other way

But, I've a friend who ended up hospitalised and nearly dying after a doctor merely listened to her chest over the telephone! That doc stated it was nothing serious, then it turned out to be pneumonia! This situation of mine feels -to me- like it could've been similar. If it'd been my heart, for example.

3 key things

So, for me, there are three key things to remember about the yawn. Kind of a three-pronged approach. ③

These are: 1) Remember to yawn on purpose; it's part of my arsenal of self care. 2) Trust what my body is trying to tell me. 3) Don't take being fobbed off by the health service lying down any more; speak up for myself to get the input I need.

*Schürmann M, Hesse MD, Stephan KE, Saarela M, Zilles K, Hari R, Fink GR. Yearning to yawn: the neural basis of contagious yawning. Neuroimage. 2005 Feb 15;24(4):1260-4. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.10.022. PMID: 15670705.


Photo credits (all photos from Unsplash):
Yawning cat by Milada Vigerova; 'deep breath' by Brett Jordan; typewriter by Markus Winkler; balancing rocks by Jeppe Hove Jensen; 'intuition' saying by Jen Theodore; meerkats by Dušan veverkolog; stretching cat by Timo Volz; plasma/energy by HalGatewood.com; green cross by Justin Chrn; broken crockery by Chuttersnap; phone by Quino Al; IV stand by Marcelo Leal.

Bonus tree photos:
With koala Marcus Wallis; with owl Ákos Nemes; with river Matthew Smith

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Water, waste and 'whatevers'

A mini-blog/reflective journal, from a self-confessed air-head.

Water, waste and 'whatevers'

I recall starting a thread not so long ago on The Cauldron in which I stated that water is my element. And it still is. If I could swim daily I absolutely would, damage to my hair be damned. Water is one of the most relaxing of sounds to me, in whatever form it comes. Petrichor is my all time favourite smell (the smell of rain).

I live in an area where the water company has the slogan: "there's not as much as you think".

So, as a lifelong environmentalist, I should definitely do a post about wasting/saving water. Here it is:

I'm aware that there's more to it than just the water itself, you see. There's also the energy and chemicals involved in processing the water to sanitize it.

So when someone wastes tapwater in the belief it's fine (because it's literally on tap, oh and it falls from the sky)... they’re wrong. There's also a waste of energy and other resources taking place.

Similarly, someone might use bottled water in the belief that it's okay if they recycle the bottle after. But in actual fact, even if the bottle did get successfully recycled, there's more to it than that.

There's the energy that went into making the bottle and bottling the water, at the start of its life. Then there's the carbon emissions etc associated with transporting the goods to retailers. And then there'll be all the energy and processes needed to recycle it. (That's if it even makes it to a recycling plant rather than landfill/the ocean.)

It's the same with recycling in general. If you read a newspaper or magazine online*, for example, then there isn't an object needing to be recycled at the end of that. And it's not going to end up as litter in the street or as yet more mass in landfill. (*Using dark theme to save energy, of course. And on a device that you look after so it'll last as long as possible.)

That example's an oversimplification actually, because digital doesn't necessarily mean better for the environment.  (I just learned, myself, that there are aspects of e.g. cryptocurrencies and crypto-art which are really environmentally damaging.  I'm not techy enough to understand it [at] all, but here's a piece that covers it if you're interested.)

Reader, I (and Greta) just want you to consider your consumption.  Really consider it.  Be it bottled- or tap-water, a newspaper/magazine - or, basically, anything else.

Think the 6 Rs:-

- Rethink - Reduce - Refuse - Repair - Reuse - Recycle (comes last!)

Rethink what you buy and reduce consumption. Do you need a plastic bottle of water, or is your tapwater perfectly drinkable (maybe after filtering)?

(Also, do you really need new clothes, or could some second hand items from a charity shop or vintage store do the job?)

Rethink how you use water, as well. Here's a Google doc with some further water saving tips and resources. Share it as widely as you like.

Refuse - does an item come with excessive packaging? Then look for a more sustainably packaged alternative instead. Vote with your wallet. It's even better yet if you can let the companies know of your boycott, and your reasons for it.

Repair everything (until it can no longer be repaired, ideally!) Fix leaking taps and dripping showers before they become a cause of wasted water. Keep your appliances in good condition too, they'll work more efficiently and they'll last longer.

Check if there's a repair café in your area for all your other belongings.

Reuse as much as you can. Buy a good quality reusable bottle, instead of single use. You can even look into Bring Your Own Container schemes for toiletries and produce.

If you're not in a position to reuse something yourself, consider whether it can be donated rather than just disposed of.

Recycle as a last resort, once all the other 5 Rs have been achieved or ruled out.

I'm not here for "whatever" from governments and big business, or for 'greenwashing'; not any more. So please also read the Google doc associated with my 'Nature and my/our role/s in reversing climate change' post, if you haven't already. And do what you can.

Please rest assured that I walk the walk as well as talking the talk. I was out last Saturday (as I write this) protesting on the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice. And I'll be out again the next time, and the next. Until net carbon zero and climate justice are secured.

Photo credits (all photos from Unsplash):

Ocean 1 by Anastasia Taioglou; ocean 2 Ilyuza Mingazova; drought by Redcharlie; water treatment plant by Ivan Bandura; bottle by Steve Johnson; ocean plastic by Nariman Mesharrafa; electricity by Photo by American Public Power Association' vintage sign by Clem Onojeghuo; bubble wrap by David Maier; screwdriver by Steve Johnson; reusable bottle by Bluewater Sweden; recycle symbol by Sigmund; one world placard by Markus Spiske (placard artwork by unknown artist).

Bonus seaweed photos, and coast & islands photo:
Wolfgang Hasselmann, Marco Zuppone and Cassandra Moore respectively.

Cookies/data
European Union laws require that EU visitors be given information about cookies used and data collected on this blog.  Google/Blogger have added a notice on this blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies, and other data collected by Google.  If this notice does not display and you are in the EU, please will you notify me in the comments section.  Many thanks.