How Dysfunctional Breathing Impacts Mood & Behavior

We’ve been taught to think of mood and behavior as purely psychological or chemical — something managed through medication or mindset. But what if one of the most overlooked drivers of mental and emotional health is something as simple, and as automatic, as the way we breathe?

The Hidden Epidemic of Dysfunctional Breathing

Over the past few decades, dysfunctional breathing patterns — especially mouth breathing — have quietly become the norm. Research from experts like Patrick McKeown, James Nestor, Dr. Shereen Lim, and Dr. Leena Alexander reveals that chronic mouth breathing and poor airway development are linked not only to physical issues like sleep apnea, fatigue, headaches, posture misalignment, and jaw misalignment, but also to behavioral, emotional, and cognitive dysregulation. 

When the airway is compromised, the brain doesn’t get the oxygen and CO₂ balance it needs to regulate mood, impulse control, and attention. Children who mouth breathe often exhibit symptoms resembling ADHD, anxiety, and irritability — and adults are no exception. What’s more concerning is that this physiological stress pattern alters facial growth over time, visibly changing the shape of the face and jaw. It’s no coincidence that certain facial profiles associated with airway restriction have been documented in individuals with severe behavioral disturbances, including some school shooters and serial murderers.

This is not to say that breathing alone causes violence — but rather, that chronic physiological dysregulation begins long before behavioral symptoms are labeled as “mental illness.”

When Behavior Is a Symptom of Breathing

Many children and adults meeting the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, ADD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, PANS/PANDAS, ODD, and even Bipolar Disorder may actually be experiencing symptoms rooted in dysfunctional breathing and airway compromise. When breathing is shallow, rapid, or through the mouth, it keeps the body in a chronic state of fight-or-flight. Over time, this impacts emotional regulation, sensory processing, and brain development.

If you or your child experience two or more of the following, an airway or myofunctional assessment should be considered:

- Mouth breathing or open-mouth posture

- Snoring, teeth grinding, or restless sleep

- Frequent movement during sleep or nightmares

- Chronic bedwetting beyond expected developmental age

- Reoccurring ear infections, colds, or persistent “allergies”

- Speech or articulation issues

- Anger, aggression, or severe tantrums

- Anxiety, irritability, or emotional reactivity

- Food texture issues or sensory sensitivities

- Slow growth or failure to thrive

- Fatigue, brain fog, or poor focus

When a child exhibits two or more of these symptoms, it’s essential to rule out airway dysfunction with a trained professional rather than assume a purely behavioral or psychological cause.

Why Early Detection Matters

Most doctors and dentists aren’t trained to evaluate airway health, tongue posture, or facial growth patterns. Instead, children struggling with attention, anxiety, or behavior are often given labels and prescriptions. Meanwhile, the root cause — poor breathing mechanics — continues to alter brain chemistry and emotional regulation.

Addressing these issues before age 12 can change the trajectory of a child’s physical and emotional development. This early window is when the face, jaw, and airway are still developing — and interventions such as myofunctional therapy, nasal breathing training, and proper oral posture can create lifelong change.

The Long-Term Health Consequences

Left untreated, airway and breathing dysfunctions don’t just impact the mind — they also affect the entire body. Poor breathing mechanics can contribute to or exacerbate:

- Migraine Headaches

- Obesity and insulin resistance

- Hormone imbalances (including thyroid dysfunction and adrenal stress)

- Postural issues (chronic shoulder, back, hip, or foot pain)

- Thyroid and metabolic disorders

- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension

These are not isolated “conditions” but often interconnected outcomes of chronic stress, poor oxygenation, and altered biomechanics — all of which start with how we breathe.

Relearning to Breathe — and Heal

Books like The Oxygen Advantage (Patrick McKeown), Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art (James Nestor), and Breathe, Sleep, Thrive (Dr. Shereen Lim) shine a powerful light on how retraining the breath can improve both physiology and psychology. Programs like The ToothPillow are helping children correct oral posture and prevent long-term dysfunction before it begins.

If this resonates, I encourage you to explore your or your child’s breathing patterns more closely. You can find a certified Myofunctional Therapist or Airway Specialist through trusted directories such as the Myofunctional Therapy Association or The Breathe Institute.  If you are local to DFW check my trusted providers page.

Breathing is not just about oxygen — it’s about balance, behavior, and the foundation of mental health.

When we correct the breath, we change the body. When we change the body, we free the mind.

Find a trained Myofunctional or Airway Specialist

Curious if your breathing patterns are affecting your mood, focus, or health?

Schedule a virtual Breath Assessment or Airway discussion to identify underlying dysfunctions before they lead to chronic issues.

Learn More

Recommended Reading

• The Oxygen Advantage: The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques for a Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter You by Patrick McKeown

• Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

• Breathe, Sleep, Thrive: Discover how airway health can unlock your child’s greater health, learning, and potential by Shereen Lim

• Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More by Richard Baxter DMD MS

• Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic by Paul R. Ehrlich & Sandra Kahn

• Six‑Foot Tiger, Three‑Foot Cage: Take Charge of Your Health by Taking Charge of Your Mouth by Dr. Felix Liao DDS  

• Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life: The Dangers of Mouth Breathing and Why Nose or Nasal Breathing is Preferred by George Catlin

• Sleep, Interrupted: A Physician Reveals the #1 Reason Why So Many of Us Are Sick and Tired by Steven Y. Park MD

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Legal Disclaimer 

I am Tiffany Bays, MS, LPC, CMNCS, a Licensed Professional Counselor, trauma-trained, Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist, and holistic psychotherapist. I am not a medical doctor. The information provided here and in the accompanying document is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. By choosing to use this information, you acknowledge and accept full responsibility for your own health decisions. Please consult a qualified medical professional before making any changes to your healthcare routine.