The Elicitation of Relaxation and Interoceptive Awareness Using Floatation Therapy
Anxiety Sensitivity (AS)
Anxiety is a common condition that can range in severity dependent upon many variables. One of those variables is an individual’s level of Anxiety Sensitivity (AS). Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) refers to one’s fear of experiencing anxiety-related symptoms, which further amplifies the anxiety itself and creates a seemingly endless cycle of ever-increasing anxiety symptoms.
About the study
This study aimed to explore the effects that floating in a sensory deprivation tank, also known as flotation-REST (reduced environmental stimulation therapy), would have on individuals with high AS. Flotation therapy is known for its ability to induce a state of relaxation and heightened interoceptive awareness, since all external (exteroceptive) sensations have been removed. This allowed participants with high AS to improve their attention regulation, remaining focused on present moment sensations, particularly the breath, rather than being swept away by the anxiety and engulfed in the constant onslaught of anxious thoughts.
Floating elicited a relaxation response that was evident both physiologically (reduced blood pressure) and psychologically (reduced anxiety and muscle tension; increased levels of relaxation and serenity), demonstrating that float tanks can be quite effective in helping those with high AS.
