Dr Justin Feinstein, a researcher at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has released results from his groundbreaking clinical trial of floating in sensory deprivation tanks to relieve symptoms of acute anxiety. In his study of 50 research participants with severe anxiety, he found that in every single participant, very strong reductions in stress and anxiety occurred after just one floatation session! Amazing results.

Floaters were connected to blood pressure, heart and brain monitors while floating, and within minutes of beginning to float they experienced blood pressure drops of 10-15 points. Floaters also reported feelings of peace and serenity which lasted for days after their float. Dr Feinstein explains that what is so amazing about the floatation treatment is that the participants don't have to do anything to experience the benefits of floating - the environment alone is enough to significantly change their mental, physical and emotional states.

Our very own Lena Yammine was lucky enough to hear Dr Feinstein's presentation in person at the 2015 Annual Float Conference. Dr Feinstein has done ongoing research in the floatation field and plans to commence an extended clinical trial examining the effects of regular, ongoing floatation sessions for people suffering from anxiety and panic disorders as well as PTSD.

Want to try floating your anxiety away? Book now and find out what floatation can do for you!

Post-traumatic Stress disorder also known as PTSD in an anxiety disorder that can occur after a person has experienced a traumatic event in their life. Events such as (but not limited to) a natural disaster, sexual or physical assault, being involved in a car crash, combat during war, or even witnessing a harmful or dangerous event. It is basically anything that involves a person experiencing a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. It is a natural human response to feel afraid when in danger. The fear triggers split-second changes in the body to prepare against the danger or to avoid it (flight or fight). However, when someone is experiencing PTSD this reaction is damaged and most people may feel stressed, anxious or scared even when they are no longer in danger.

Generally, somebody who has PTSD will experience symptoms such as; reliving the traumatic event over and over again in their mind; they experience high levels of anxiety when doing so and its common for people with PTSD to try to block out or avoid thinking about the event in the hope that it will just go away.
Other common symptoms of PTSD can be things such as recurrent nightmares, having ‘flash backs’ of the ordeal, feeling irritable or having anger outbursts, having issues falling asleep and staying asleep, losing interest in activities that were once pleasant or pleasurable, being physically responsive such as sweating or having an increased heart rate at the thought or conversation around the traumatic event, having difficulties with positivity and feelings such as happiness or love.
 
Not everybody who experiences a traumatic event has PTSD, however when a person becomes immobilised with stress, overwhelmed at the thoughts surrounding the ordeal or finds themselves “stuck” in the same circle of negative thoughts over and over again even when the immediate danger has passed and they are unable to return to a pre-stress state of balance.

Being inside the floatation tank, where everything is totally silent, dark and completely effortless gives the mind time to slow down and process thoughts in a calmer and more profoundly relaxed manner. The lack of external stimuli is extremely rare in modern society, however in the floatation environment, it allows the mind to enter into the theta state, which is the dreamy like state right before falling asleep at night or when first waking in the morning. The sensory deprivation or the floatation tank environment has been shown to heighten senses such as creativity and clarity post-float and for days after the float. It also allows the brain to enter into a naturally calm-down period, which helps those who have trouble with insomnia or other sleep disorders. Floating also offers a natural increase in dopamine (a neurotransmitter that helps control the brains reward and pleasure centres and also helps regulate movement and emotional responses). This helps to create feelings of euphoria and aids mental relaxation, which benefits our overall health and wellbeing. Many common mental issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and other psychological issues are found to be alleviated whist in the floatation tank and for days after due to the shift in brain chemistry. There are also great benefits to anyone with stress related diseases such as hypertension, ulcers, heart disease and many others as the floatation tank offers a mental solution to the physical symptom by targeting the problem at the source being stress, which is at the root of these issues.
 
Floatation therapy offers a safe, alternative way to combat many issues naturally without having to depend on pills that may have side effects and could be potentially dangerous on your body in the long term.