Isolation Tank

[robin_himself]

Swim got interested in this experience and tries to find alot about it. But until now did not encountered people who have tried it.

Now my question is... has SWIY tried this? how was the experience? and where does one go to try this?

This is a short discription for the interested.

An isolation tank (also commonly known as a sensory deprivation tank) is (ideally) a lightless, soundproof tank in which subjects float in salty water (denser than the human body) at skin temperature. It was devised by John C. Lilly in 1954 in order to test the effects of sensory deprivation. Such tanks are now also used for meditation, prayer, relaxation, and in alternative medicine.

The isolation tank is also called float tank, floating tank, floater tank, floatation tank, Samadhi tank, sensory deprivation tank, REST tank (Restricted Environmental Stimuli Therapy), and John Lilly tank.

In the original tanks, people were required to wear complicated head-masks in order to breathe underwater; in newer tanks, Epsom salt (1.30 grams per cubic centimeter) is added so that the subject floats with his or her face above the water. However, since the ears are submerged when the subject is in a relaxed position, hearing is greatly reduced, particularly when ear-plugs are also used. When the arms float to the side, skin sensation is greatly reduced because the air and water are the same temperature as the skin, and the feeling of a body boundary fades. The sense of smell is also greatly reduced, especially if the water has not been treated with chlorine.

A therapeutic session in a flotation tank typically lasts an hour. For the first forty minutes it is reportedly common to experience itching in various parts of the body (a phenomenon also reported to be common during the early stages of meditation). The last 20 minutes often end with a transition from beta or alpha brainwaves to theta, which typically occur briefly before sleep and again at waking. In a float tank the theta state can last for several minutes without the subject losing consciousness. Many use the extended theta state as a tool for enhanced creativity and problem-solving or for superlearning. Spas sometimes provide commercial float tanks for use in relaxation.

Shorter sessions may be relaxing and other benefits are claimed by Lilly but have not been confirmed by other scientists. Common reactions to extended sensory deprivation are hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, anxiety, and depression, and some researchers believe this to be evidence of a deep human need for almost constant input of stimuli (the opposite of Lilly's conclusion).

More extreme uses of the tank involve the subject taking varying doses of hallucinogens, such as LSD, and spending prolonged periods in the tank (up to tens of hours) at a time, an approach pioneered by Lilly himself – though he claims to have tried LSD in the tank only after 1964, when the drug was still legal, a decade after his first experiments with the tank itself.

These 'isolation tanks' are also thought to be used currently in the "rendition process" alleged to be used by the United States CIA. Long periods in the tank can create deep levels of anxiety, and severe depression in a person.

[Voices]

They have phone books in the Netherlands, no?

When swim lived in Denver, they had isolation tanks available for rent (by the hour) in Boulder. Swim personally never made it and has no idea if they are still available. If you really want to try one, look in the phone book and maybe you'll get lucky.

Center of the Cyclone- John C. Lilly; this book contains his written accounts with LSD and isolation tanks and is reported to be the inspiration for the movie Altered States.

He even made a tank that the water flowed out of (in through the top and out through the bottom) very slowly so he could urinate without interupting his voyages. He did mention that it was very hard to override the bodymind response to tighten up the bladder and associated muscles that retain urine, as I'm sure you can imagine.

[adzket]

i know swim who has used one for a hr and found it deaply relaxing and a good stress relever, they had much fun and want to do it again possibly for longer and with the use of k or simerla type of substance to see how far they can travel in there mind with no distractions from out side stimuli.

[Zaprenz]

Did anyone see the horizon documentary on television recently on sensory deprivation?

Quite amazing how the mind starts shutting down. It seems our brains are good for certain levels of sensory input, too much or too little and things get a bit complicated.

[cosmicruler]

SWIM has yet to try but is also very keen and interested and would like to hear others reports.

[Dole654]

I've been wanting to float for a while now; I should be heading to the isolation tank this weekend.
I'll let you guys know what happens!

[enquirewithin]

Originally Posted by robin_himself

More extreme uses of the tank involve the subject taking varying doses of hallucinogens, such as LSD, and spending prolonged periods in the tank (up to tens of hours) at a time, an approach pioneered by Lilly himself – though he claims to have tried LSD in the tank only after 1964, when the drug was still legal, a decade after his first experiments with the tank itself.

He later used ketamine in the isolation tank as well.

[Shampoo]

Swim has had several experiences in isolation chambers both with and without the inclusion of psychedelics. His first experience consisted of a single hour in a horizontal float-tank. The first half-hour or so yielded relaxation and an interesting ability to control ones heart beat. This physical inner dialogue became increasingly uncomfortable and he was eventually overwhelmed with the awareness of his endogenous-workings. He decided to repeat the journey with an oral dose of n,n-DMT and an MAOI, one of his favorite combinations of chemicals, and an especially dear friend of comfort and well-being. He ingested the MAOI 45 minutes before the tank, followed by n,n-DMT 20 minutes later. Entering the tank he had extremely vivid CEVs as well as an increased awareness of endogenous stimulation. By the 45 minute mark (approximately), he had created an elaborate web of inner-imagery and flawlessly imaginative self-dialogue. Remembering words long-forgotten and vivid smell-recall were prominent factors unique to the experience (not normally experienced during n,n-DMT/MAOI ingestion outside of sensory-dep.). After an hour he wanted nothing more than to stay in the tank forever. He didnt however, and instead got on the bus to go home. He says he will give me a more detailed report soon.