FLOATING + ANXIETY
Can floating in salt water really reduce Anxiety?
Dr. Justin Feinstein is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Director of the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) Float Clinic and Research Center and he thinks the answer is yes.
Justin and his team are in the midst of conducting a research study examining whether floating can help reduce the effects of stress in individuals who are suffering from mental illness. They are studying a range of different conditions that all feature high levels of anxiety including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depression. Thus far Justin has been been truly inspired by the results, with patients reporting significant short-term improvement in depression and anxiety after floating.
More than simply reducing symptoms of mental illness, the float experience seems to enhance mental wellness, allowing patients the opportunity to experience life in a peaceful and serene state. It should be noted that many of these patients have tried other forms of treatment, including medication and psychotherapy, and unfortunately none of these other treatments have provided much in terms of relief.
Justin and his team are in the midst of conducting a research study examining whether floating can help reduce the effects of stress in individuals who are suffering from mental illness. They are studying a range of different conditions that all feature high levels of anxiety including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depression. Thus far Justin has been been truly inspired by the results, with patients reporting significant short-term improvement in depression and anxiety after floating.
More than simply reducing symptoms of mental illness, the float experience seems to enhance mental wellness, allowing patients the opportunity to experience life in a peaceful and serene state. It should be noted that many of these patients have tried other forms of treatment, including medication and psychotherapy, and unfortunately none of these other treatments have provided much in terms of relief.
Results of the Study
- They floated clinically anxious and depressed people once each and measured their anxiety state shortly before and after floating. That is, people who had an anxiety-related diagnosis from a psychiatrist, like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and/or PTSD.
- Without exception, everyone was less anxious after floating. The more severely anxious they’d been at the start, the more significant the effect
- People reported significant reductions in stress, muscle tension, pain, depression and negative affect, and significant improvements in serenity, relaxation, happiness and overall well-being (p < .0001 for all variables)
