A Research-Backed Way to Relieve Stress

Floating Tanks Are Effective for Reducing Stress

As a concierge at a sensory deprivation float facility, I can say that almost everyone who leaves after their first floating session is surprised by how much their stress has decreased. Most of the benefits people hope to gain from sensory deprivation float therapy—what I’ll casually call “floating”—require multiple sessions and consistent practice to achieve. So why does stress relief come so easily and for nearly everyone? I had personal observations to back this up, so I took it upon myself to dive into the detailed science behind it all to confirm (and be able to explain) exactly what happens in the body that makes floating such a powerful stress reducer.

The Sympathetic Nervous System and Stress

Let’s start with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This is a part of the autonomic nervous system that readies the body for life-threatening danger—like being attacked or getting into a car accident. When this system is activated (often called the “fight-or-flight response”), the body redirects energy it would normally use for automatic functions like digestion and immune system regulation. Instead, it uses that energy to boost adrenal activity and cardiovascular functions, which help the body respond to an immediate threat. Cortisol, also known as “the stress hormone,” is released in large amounts to help us react to the danger at hand.

In today’s world, stressors are everywhere—and unfortunately, even small ones are often perceived by our nervous system as potential life threats. This means the SNS gets activated when it doesn’t need to be.

The medical community is increasingly recognizing that excessive SNS activity directly contributes to many health problems. The simplest way to explain this is: when the SNS is active, our immune systems, digestion, and kidney functions are significantly impaired, while our cardiovascular system works harder for longer than is necessary or helpful. According to the National Institute of Health and other respected researchers, the harmful effects of this overactivity can include heart attacks, strokes, obesity, type 2 diabetes, end-stage kidney disease, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders, oedema (fluid buildup in the kidneys that causes body-wide inflammation), high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.

Typically, after an event that rightfully triggers the SNS—like an animal attack—the body calms down and returns to normal by activating the “parasympathetic nervous system” (PNS). When the PNS is active, cortisol production stops, cardiovascular activity drops to normal levels, and the functions inhibited by the SNS are restored. But in modern daily life, the situations our nervous system sees as threats often don’t fully go away. The worry of an upcoming deadline, serious relationship issues, legal trouble, financial insecurity, and other persistent fears keep the SNS activated—preventing the PNS from stepping in to calm things down. As a result, many people live with constant nervous system distress, leading to a chain reaction of ongoing health problems.

How to “Hack” the Nervous System with a Floating Tank

So the question is: how can we intervene, so to speak? Research consistently shows the answer is simpler than we might think—we just need to give ourselves time for true, deep rest.

Studies by the Laureate Institute for Brain Research found one consistent result: people who floated experienced a sense of calm that lasted up to several days after their session. This was even true for participants with severe chronic anxiety. Additionally, nearly all participants saw a noticeable drop in blood pressure. For comparison, the control group was seated in a comfortable, reclined chair and shown a soothing nature documentary—and their results were far less significant.

This leads us to a hypothesis: floating is a unique form of rest that can activate the parasympathetic nervous system. In turn, this shuts down the excessive SNS activity that’s responsible for so much of the chronic stress and health issues plaguing modern society at epidemic levels.

Floating Is a Scientifically Proven Stress Relief Method

Again, the key question is: how do we intervene? As research repeatedly shows, the solution is simpler than expected—we need to carve out time for genuine, deep rest to get the maximum stress relief benefit.

Laureate Institute for Brain Research studies confirmed that floating led to lasting calm (up to several days) for participants—even those with high chronic anxiety. Most participants also had lower blood pressure. The control group, who sat in a comfortable reclined chair and watched a calming nature film, had much less dramatic results.

This supports the idea that floating is a one-of-a-kind rest experience capable of activating the PNS. By doing so, it reduces the overactive SNS that drives the chronic stress and health problems so common today.

Recognizing that floating is a real, research-backed way to reduce stress is important when preparing for your own floating experience—especially if you’re starting or expanding a business that includes floating tanks. A good floating facility should be able to explain this science when questions arise. I encourage all floating facility owners, managers, marketers, and similar professionals to do their own research. This way, they’ll be ready to answer guests’ questions about why floating works from a scientific perspective.