Sensory Deprivation / Floatation / Isolation Tank

[rupert]

Hi, I just came back from my first ever session in a Flotation Tank, and.. was not sure about what I think about the experience. So your views are appreciated!

The initial impression was pretty cool, cause you sit down in the middle of the tank, recline and eventually float mid-submerged in dense water, which was a new sensation.
It was a bit hard to get comfortable with the head since the water doesn't support it enough. However a spongy tube was available to put under the neck or head... I didn't get it properly sorted out, but tried to get on anyway. The rest of the body was very comfortable!!
They also had wax ear plugs to prevent water from coming into the ears.

The tank had 3 buttons, one to close the hatch, one to turn off the light (tiny red diodes at the foot end) and one for any emergencies.

The first 10 minutes some (cheesy) New Age music was played. I'm not sure why, but I guess it's a detail that makes the experience a bit more recreational and complete, after that you're on your own.

Since the mid teens I've been (moderately) interested in relaxation, visualisation, meditation etc. and many times I've wondered if my head works like it should!! I've tried drum travels many times without much success, and at organised events first timers have travelled further than me.. So I wonder.... Maybe my mind is not quite disciplined?!
Maybe in more organised circumstances like this one I put too much expectations on myself and don't let go, and that internal dialogue is just taking over, holding me back.
I've managed to have deeper and almost overwhelming experiences just lying in bed (and in the bathtub), but then I can not control when this is going to happen. Anyway, despite my lack of control (although that level might be completely normal) the water didn't help.

Also, my day was a bit screwed up. Got up too late, had a bit of a headache and it got a bit rushed. Those factors would affect the "trip".

It was relaxing, but not some miracle mind-opener (don't think I expected that... I hope!!). But I prefer a massage for relaxation!!
If anyone has suggestions or advice, I'll do it again baring them in mind..

Reputation Comments on this post:

thanks for adding your experience

[opus]

Silly me.. My friend SWIM told me that sensory deprivation environments were only mild-altering when under the effects of a psychedelic; he specifically mentioned Ketamine, as it is possible to travel through random interdimensional portals called "K-holes" on this substance, which apparently causes the user to really trip balls in an SDE.

SWIM also relates the story of his friend, whose name he cannot recall, and which goes like this: Supposedly this guy ingested many, many grams of "magic mushrooms", which was not an unusual amount for him. However, upon using the SDE for (at least what seemed like) several hours, all sorts of wondrous spiritual enlightenments overtook him, mostly dictating the intricate facets of the human soul since this bloke doesn't believe in god.

Just food for thought. Personally, I have often fantasized about owning an SDE and experimenting with how best to unlock (or depending on your perspective, unhinge) the human mind; it sounds amazing, and I've been wanting to do it since I saw Daredevil when I was 12. (In that movie, the guy has super-senses in place of blindness, and thus is required to sleep in this tank.)

Sorry if this whole post was rubbish, but it seems like nothing I write is the dog's bollocks these days.. I blame final exams.