Stress relief and anxiety
Floating is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety more effectively than other therapeutic interventions
A powerful antidote to stress and anxiety
A small amount of stress and anxiety is normal, but many people experience levels which damage their health. Reducing stress and anxiety is complex, but there are mental and physical drivers that floating can have a significant impact on.
Floating in a tank of warm water alone is known to lessen stress. An hour in a float tank reduces blood pressure, cortisol levels, and other stress-related chemicals like norepinephrine, adrenaline, and ACTH*. It also reduces activity in the amygdala – which is overactive when we are stressed or anxious.
A 2018 study by the Laureate Institute for Brain Research found:
‘Floating substantially reduced anxiety, with participants reporting significant reductions in stress, muscle tension, pain, depression and negative affect, accompanied by a significant improvement in mood characterized by increases in serenity, relaxation, happiness and overall well-being […] the most severely anxious participants reported the largest effects’
Justin Feinstien who led this research said:
‘Essentially what we found in the preliminary data is that the amygdala is shutting off post-float,” Feinstein says. “It’s nice to see that that can be done in a way that doesn’t require medication.’
The state of deep relaxation is one that our body naturally enters; however, this state can be hard to find on our own. The key to reaching the meditative state is through focused attention on an object or sound. While some people like to focus on their breathing, others choose a mantra (a word repeated over and over again).
The mental health charity Mind suggests that there are strong links between anxiety and poor sleep, which could explain why many people who float to reduce stress or anxiety also say they slept better after their session.
*(Hutchinson, 1984; Kjellgren, 2003; Bood et al, 2006; Dierendonck, 2005)