What 90 Minutes in a Float Tank Did to My Anxiety
The first 20 minutes were torture.
I was lying in complete darkness, floating in 10 inches of salt water, and my brain would not shut up. Did I lock my car? What's that sound? Is the water getting colder? How much time has passed?
I almost hit the button to end the session early. I'm glad I didn't.
The First Float: What Actually Happens
Here's what nobody told me before my first float: the experience changes dramatically over the 90 minutes. It happens in phases.
Minutes 0-20: The Fidget Phase
Your mind races. You're hyperaware of every sensation—the salt water on your skin, the slight temperature difference between water and air, the sound of your own breathing. You might wonder if you made a mistake.
Minutes 20-40: The Settling
Something shifts. Your body stops searching for input. The water and air are the same temperature as your skin, so you lose track of where your body ends. The racing thoughts slow. Not stop—slow.
Minutes 40-60: The Quiet
This is where it gets interesting. Without external input, your brain waves shift into theta states—the same patterns seen in deep meditation. For someone whose mind rarely stops, this feels like a miracle. The mental chatter just... fades.
Minutes 60-90: Whatever This Is
I can't describe this part well. Time becomes meaningless. I wasn't asleep but I wasn't fully awake. When the music came on to signal the end, I genuinely didn't know if 20 minutes or 2 hours had passed.
What Happened After
I got out of the tank, showered off the salt, and sat in the lobby for 15 minutes before I felt alert enough to drive.
That evening, I noticed something: the low-grade anxiety I normally carry—the background hum of tension—was gone. Not reduced. Gone.
It lasted about 36 hours before slowly creeping back. But I'd proven something to myself: that state of calm was accessible. My nervous system could do that.
The Research That Explains This
I'm not the only one. Researchers at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research have been studying float tanks and anxiety specifically.
Their findings:
- Participants with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder all showed significant reductions after a single float
- Neuroimaging showed reduced amygdala activity—your brain's threat detection center calms down
- Cortisol (stress hormone) dropped an average of 21% after one session
- No adverse events were reported
The key insight: floating shifts your brain into theta wave states. These are the same patterns seen in deep meditation—states most people struggle to achieve even after years of practice. The float tank makes it almost automatic.
Why I Keep Going Back
I've done maybe 15 floats now. Here's what I've learned:
Session 1-3: You're learning to relax. Don't judge the experience yet.
Session 4-6: The benefits start compounding. You drop into the quiet state faster. The post-float calm lasts longer.
Ongoing: Floating becomes like a reset button. After a stressful week, I can get my nervous system back to baseline in 90 minutes.
What I'd Tell Someone Nervous About Trying This
"Won't I panic in the dark?" You control everything. Leave the light on. Keep the door open. Start with 30 minutes. Most people find the darkness becomes the point—it's where the magic happens.
"What if I can't stop thinking?" You won't stop thinking the first time. That's fine. The practice is just being there. Your brain learns over multiple sessions.
"Is this just fancy bathing?" No. The salt concentration—1,000+ pounds of Epsom salt—makes you float completely effortlessly. You're not holding yourself up. That's what allows your muscles to fully release.
Building a Float Practice for Anxiety
If you're dealing with ongoing anxiety, here's what I'd suggest:
| Phase | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Initial (weeks 1-6) | Weekly | 60-90 minutes |
| Maintenance | Every 2-4 weeks | 60-90 minutes |
| Stressful periods | Increase as needed | As long as you want |
Float pairs well with therapy (you'll have insights to process), meditation (floating accelerates the learning curve), and journaling (capture the post-float clarity before it fades).
What Floating Won't Do
Floating isn't a cure for anxiety disorders. It won't replace therapy, medication, or addressing the underlying causes of your stress.
What it offers is proof. Proof that your nervous system can access deep calm. Proof that the background hum of anxiety isn't permanent. That knowledge, for me, was worth more than the relaxation itself.
Finding Float Tanks in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay has float centers across the region—from South Tampa to Wesley Chapel. Most offer 60 or 90-minute sessions, with introductory rates for first-timers.
Explore Float Tanks in Tampa Bay or find Float Tanks in Tampa.
