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FLOATING FOR ANXIETY
- Jax-Zen Healing Arts Center
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
This Float Fact was originally published in January 2023 and has been lovingly updated to reflect the growing research — and the lived experience — of using float therapy to soothe anxiety.
💦 We often hear from folks who carry a deep undercurrent of anxiety — whether it shows up as racing thoughts, a tense chest, sleepless nights, or a general sense of unease. And while we believe healing isn’t one-size-fits-all, we’ve seen again and again how floatation therapy can be a powerful tool for softening the edges of chronic stress and nervous system overwhelm.
🧠 What the Research Shows
At the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, researchers have studied the effects of floating — specifically Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) — on people with anxiety and mood-related disorders.
"We have found that a single one-hour session of Floatation-REST is capable of inducing a strong reduction in state anxiety and a substantial improvement in mood," says Justin Feinstein, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist and director of the Float Research Collective.
Their studies included individuals navigating:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety
Agoraphobia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
And the outcomes? Along with reduced anxiety, participants often reported:
🌿A deep sense of serenity
🌿 Elevated mood and energy
🌿 Feeling refreshed, peaceful, and reconnected to themselves
💦 Why Floating Works
When you step into a float tank, your external stimuli drop away — no phone alerts, no bright lights, no expectations. Just warm, skin-temperature water and stillness. This creates a rare state of calm where your nervous system can downshift.
Your body enters what researchers call a parasympathetic state — a natural rest-and-digest mode that’s difficult to access in our everyday, overstimulated world.
In this state, floating helps:
Lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone linked to anxiety and burnout
Trigger a natural release of endorphins, supporting a gentle sense of ease and well-being
Interrupt the stress loop that tells your body to stay on high alert
Many floaters describe this sensation as relief, coming home to themselves, or even a therapy session without words.
❤️ A Note from the Heart
We know anxiety can feel heavy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. At Jax-Zen, we don’t offer quick fixes — we offer supportive space.
Floating isn’t about escaping your experience; it’s about creating enough stillness for your system to recalibrate. Whether you’re managing everyday stress or navigating deeper waves of anxiety, the float tank offers a soft, quiet place to begin again.
✨“90 minutes in the tank feels like a great therapy session — without the therapist.”
💦 Ready to soften the edges? Book your float now or call us at 601-691-1697 — we’re happy to answer your questions and guide you gently in.
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