Finding Calm in the Float: How Sensory Deprivation Therapy Supports PTSD Recovery

Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often means existing in a state of hypervigilance, where your nervous system remains perpetually activated, scanning for threats that may not exist. For the millions of people navigating PTSD—veterans, survivors of abuse, first responders, and anyone who has experienced trauma—finding moments of genuine calm can feel impossible.

Float therapy, also known as floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy), is emerging as a promising complementary treatment that offers something rare for trauma survivors: a sanctuary where the nervous system can finally rest.

Understanding the PTSD-Stress Connection

PTSD fundamentally alters how the brain processes stress and safety. The amygdala, our brain's alarm system, becomes overactive, while the prefrontal cortex—responsible for rational thinking and emotion regulation—shows decreased activity. This neurological imbalance keeps trauma survivors in a chronic state of fight-or-flight, leading to insomnia, anxiety, hypervigilance, flashbacks, and emotional dysregulation.

Traditional PTSD treatments like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are highly effective but work primarily through the cognitive and psychological dimensions. Float therapy offers something different: a direct pathway to calming the nervous system through sensory reduction, creating the physiological conditions necessary for healing.

The Science Behind Float Therapy

Float therapy involves lying in a specially designed tank filled with water saturated with Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), heated to skin temperature. The high salt concentration allows you to float effortlessly, while the temperature-neutral water creates the sensation of weightlessness. The tank minimizes external stimuli—sound, light, gravity, and temperature variations—creating a uniquely calm environment.

Research published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Feinstein et al. (2018) found that a single float session significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and stress in participants with anxiety disorders, including those with PTSD. The study demonstrated that floatation-REST produces what researchers call the "relaxation response"—a state characterized by decreased cortisol levels, reduced muscle tension, and lowered blood pressure and heart rate.

A groundbreaking 2018 study in PLOS ONE by Feinstein et al. examined float therapy's effects specifically on individuals with anxiety sensitivity—a trait strongly associated with PTSD. Results showed that participants experienced significant reductions in anxiety, muscle tension, stress, and negative affect, while simultaneously increasing feelings of serenity, relaxation, and wellbeing. Remarkably, these benefits occurred without triggering the anxiety or claustrophobia researchers initially anticipated.

How Float Therapy Supports PTSD Recovery

• Nervous System Reset: The sensory-reduced environment allows your nervous system to shift from sympathetic activation (fight-or-flight) to parasympathetic dominance (rest-and-digest). For trauma survivors whose systems are locked in hyperarousal, this physiological shift can be profoundly therapeutic. Many describe floating as the first time in years they've felt genuinely safe in their own bodies.

• Cortisol Reduction: Chronic stress and trauma keep cortisol levels elevated, contributing to inflammation, sleep disruption, and mood dysregulation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that float therapy significantly reduces cortisol, helping to interrupt the stress cycle that maintains PTSD symptoms.

• Enhanced Interoception: Trauma often disconnects us from our bodies—a protective mechanism that becomes problematic over time. The float environment, free from external distractions, naturally draws attention inward, allowing for gentle reconnection with bodily sensations. This enhanced interoceptive awareness is crucial for trauma recovery and complements somatic therapies.

• Mindfulness and Meditation: The float tank creates ideal conditions for meditative states, which research shows can help regulate the amygdala and strengthen the prefrontal cortex. For trauma survivors who struggle with traditional seated meditation due to hypervigilance, floating offers an accessible alternative that supports the body's natural ability to enter calm, reflective states.

• Sleep Improvement: PTSD and sleep disturbances are deeply interconnected. The profound relaxation induced by floating often leads to improved sleep quality in the days following a session, giving the brain crucial time to process emotions and consolidate healing.

  
  

What to Expect During Your First Float

If you're considering float therapy for PTSD, it's natural to have concerns. Many trauma survivors worry about feeling trapped, vulnerable, or losing control. Here's what can help:

You remain in complete control throughout your session. The tank door is never locked, and you can exit anytime. Many facilities (including ours) offer tanks with options for ambient lighting or soft music if total darkness and silence feel overwhelming initially. Starting with shorter sessions (30-45 minutes) can help you acclimate gradually.

During your float, you may experience a range of sensations and emotions. Some people feel immediate calm; others need several sessions to relax fully. Some trauma survivors report processing emotions or memories during floats—this is normal and can be therapeutic when you feel safe and supported.

Integrating Float Therapy Into Your Treatment Plan

Float therapy is most effective as part of a comprehensive PTSD treatment approach, not as a replacement for evidence-based psychotherapy. At Kairos, we view float therapy as a powerful complement to therapeutic work, helping to regulate your nervous system between sessions and creating the physiological foundation for psychological healing.

We recommend discussing float therapy with your mental health provider to ensure it aligns with your treatment goals. For many clients, floating before or after therapy sessions enhances their ability to engage in difficult therapeutic work by providing nervous system support.

Getting Started Safely

If you're interested in exploring float therapy:

• Communicate with staff: Share relevant information about your PTSD so they can support you appropriately

• Start gradually: Begin with shorter sessions and gradually increase duration

• Schedule mindfully: Plan floats when you have downtime afterward, not before stressful obligations

• Consider post-float support: Some people benefit from journaling or speaking with a therapist after intense float experiences

• Be patient: Benefits often accumulate over multiple sessions

  
  

Resources for PTSD Support

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, help is available:

• National Center for PTSD: 1-802-296-6300 | www.ptsd.va.gov Comprehensive resources, treatment information, and provider directory

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (24/7) Free, confidential treatment referral and information service

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (24/7) Free crisis counseling via text message

• Veterans Crisis Line: 1-988, then press 1 | www.veteranscrisisline.net Confidential support for veterans and their families

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (24/7) Immediate support during crisis

• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: www.istss.org Find trauma specialists and evidence-based treatment information

  
  

Moving Forward

PTSD recovery isn't linear, and there's no single treatment that works for everyone. Float therapy offers a unique tool—one that works with your body's innate wisdom and capacity for healing. It provides something precious and often elusive for trauma survivors: a space of genuine safety where your nervous system can remember what calm feels like.

At Kairos, we're committed to supporting your healing journey with compassion, expertise, and evidence-based complementary therapies. Whether float therapy becomes a regular practice or an occasional resource during difficult periods, we're here to help you discover what works for your unique path to recovery.

You deserve to feel safe in your body and at peace in your mind. Let us help you find your way there.

References:

Feinstein, J. S., Khalsa, S. S., Yeh, H., Wohlrab, C., Simmons, W. K., Stein, M. B., & Paulus, M. P. (2018). Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0190292.

Feinstein, J. S., Khalsa, S. S., Yeh, H., Al Zoubi, O., Arevian, A. C., Wohlrab, C., Pantino, M., Cartmell, L. J., Simmons, W. K., Stein, M. B., & Paulus, M. P. (2018). The elicitation of relaxation and interoceptive awareness using floatation therapy in individuals with high anxiety sensitivity. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 3(6), 555-562.

Jonsson, K., & Kjellgren, A. (2016). Promising effects of treatment with flotation-REST (restricted environmental stimulation technique) as an intervention for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): A randomized controlled pilot trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16(1), 108.