One in four Australians will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime. This worrying statistic from Beyond Blue coupled with the long-tail aftershock of the pandemic, means that more and more Australians are seeking out safe and viable treatments for improved mental health and wellbeing. With many known mind and body benefits, and growing interest, floatation therapy is proving to be a natural, gentle and effective way to help reduce everyday stress as well as treat anxiety, depression and PTSD.
Float tank therapy: A brief history
Float tanks originated in 1954 as an academic initiative by Dr John C. Lilly using R.E.S.T. (restricted environmental stimulation tank) to relieve stress build up in the body and mind. Fast forward about 70 years, and float tank therapy has evolved to an accessible everyday therapeutic option, with state-of-the-art plunge pool type float tanks (like our centre’s) allowing you to relax in comfort and style.
How float tanks work
Float tanks reduce sensory input into your body, both mentally and physically. Because of the dense magnesium sulphate salt to water solution, you float weightlessly facing up in skin-temperature 30cm shallow water. For complete tranquillity, our centre offers your own float tank in a private room so noise is completely eliminated. We also provide earplugs for your comfort. Without feeling the water (because it’s skin temperature), and in semi to total darkness (your choice), plus silence—all this works beautifully to shut out the world and relax both body and mind.
Floatation therapy as a natural therapeutic tool
Besides the physical benefits of floating, including reduced muscle and physical pain, research has also shown many mental health benefits of float tank therapy.
How floating can help reduce stress
In one study, 65 participants (51 women and 14 men) experienced 12 float sessions each over a seven-week period. Results showed that floatation R.E.S.T. reduced stress, depression and anxiety. Other benefits included decreased physical pain, improved sleep quality and optimism.
How floatation can help reduce anxiety
In another research study of 50 anxious and depressed participants, results indicated that a single one-hour floatation-R.E.S.T session induced a strong reduction in anxiety and improved mood. This group’s participants included anxiety and stress-related disorders spanning PTSD, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder. The findings of this study suggests that floatation therapy is a promising technique to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
How float tank therapy can help treat PTSD
In a Swedish study of a 24-year old single-case study, float tank therapy proved to help improve the symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD. This study took place over 18 months with regular float sessions resulting in improved quality of life, wellbeing and healthy behaviour, with no negative outcomes.
How floating can help treat depression
Float tank therapy, as a complementary treatment, can help treat depression as seen in a research study of 24 participants. The findings of this study showed that floating had significant beneficial effects. This included helping to treat sleep difficulties, emotional regulation and depression, with no negative effects resulting from floating.
How does floating work to achieve all this?
A single float can lower cortisol levels, lower heart rate, and lower blood pressure. This means that regular float sessions can improve overall health and wellbeing.
Magnesium sulphate is a natural anti-inflammatory and relaxes joints, muscles and the nervous system, promoting better health. A sensory-reduced environment, together with the relaxing benefits of magnesium, enables your body and mind to be completely free of all external pressures, helping to clear your mind and reset. Besides being an incredibly peaceful experience that can help to improve mental health, added benefits of float tank therapy include reduced muscle and physical pain as well as improved sleep. And with no reported negative health outcomes from floating, it’s unsurprising that floating is becoming increasingly popular as a viable and safe therapeutic option to help treat mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, stress and anxiety. And our centre makes it easy. We’re a member of Float Therapy Australia (FTA) which means we have the highest standard of service, hygiene and knowledge of float therapy. Our centre also offers NDIS and HICAPS benefits, which makes claiming easier, with service and professionalism guaranteed. Get in touch to find out more about float tank therapy or any of our other treatments.
To enjoy the benefits of float tank therapy, book now. Or explore our available float options which includes single float, double float tank, double float room, 30-min express float, or float bundle packages. Bondi Junction Massage & Float Centre is a restorative and remedial oasis of calm and wellbeing in the heart of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, treating thousands of clients since 1985.
