Sensory Isolation in Flotation Tanks: Altered States of Consciousness and Effects on Well-being
The Qualitative Report January 14, 2015 Anette Kjellgren, Fransica Lyden, Torsten Norlander 40 citations
Floating in a flotation tank induces an altered state of consciousness, ranging from mild relaxation and changed time perception to powerful perceptual shifts including out-of-body and perinatal experiences. A qualitative analysis of interviews with eight patients suffering from depression, burn-out syndrome, and chronic pain identified 21 categories grouped into four themes: experiences during floating, perceived effects afterward, technical details, and participants' background, motivation, and expectations. Floating was generally perceived as pleasant. These findings may assist professionals and potential users in understanding the effects of flotation tank therapy.