Float Tanks: A Promising Approach to Addressing Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a complex and challenging eating disorder characterized by distorted body image and severe weight loss.
Traditional treatments have primarily focused on nutritional rehabilitation and cognitive-behavioral therapies.
However, recent research has shed light on a novel approach that might offer additional therapeutic benefits: float tanks - known as floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) in clinical settings.
What is Floatation-REST?
Floatation-REST involves immersing an individual in a shallow pool filled with a dense saltwater solution. This environment is specially designed to minimize sensory input, including visual and auditory stimuli. Participants float effortlessly on their back, thanks to the high salt concentration, and can choose to be in total darkness or have soft ambient illumination.
How Can Float Tanks Help Those with Anorexia Nervosa?
A recent study delved deep into the potential benefits of floatation-REST for individuals with AN. Here's what they found:
Reduction in Body Dissatisfaction: The primary outcome of the study was self-reported body dissatisfaction, measured using the Photographic Figure Rating Scale (PFRS). Participants who underwent floatation-REST sessions showed significant reductions in body dissatisfaction.
Decrease in Anxiety Levels: AN often coexists with heightened anxiety levels. The study noted acute reductions in state anxiety among participants after their float sessions.
Enhanced Interoceptive Awareness: One of the theories behind AN's distorted body image is the diminished perception of interoceptive body signals, which are signals from within the body, like hunger and fullness. By reducing external sensory input, floating heightens awareness of these interoceptive sensations, potentially helping individuals with AN reconnect with their body's signals.
Why is this Significant?
Anorexia Nervosa is not just about food. It's deeply intertwined with how individuals perceive their bodies. Traditional treatments, while effective, might not address all facets of the disorder. Floatation-REST, with its unique approach, offers a complementary method that addresses both the perceptual and emotional aspects of AN.
Moreover, the relaxing environment of the float tank can be a therapeutic experience in itself, offering individuals a break from the constant sensory overload of the modern world.
Float Tanks and Broader Anxiety Implications
While the study primarily focused on Anorexia Nervosa, the implications of float tanks extend to the broader spectrum of anxiety disorders. Here's how:
Natural Anxiolytic Effect: The significant reduction in state anxiety observed among participants with AN suggests that floatation-REST has inherent anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. This aligns with previous research on float tanks, which have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.
Sensory Deprivation and Mindfulness: The sensory-deprived environment of a float tank can be likened to certain mindfulness and meditation practices. By minimizing external distractions, individuals are better able to focus on their internal experiences, promoting a state of calm and present-moment awareness. This can be especially beneficial for those with anxiety, as it offers a respite from the incessant cycle of anxious thoughts.
Enhanced Interoceptive Connection: Just as with AN, individuals with anxiety disorders often struggle with interoceptive awareness. They might misinterpret bodily sensations (like a racing heart) as signs of impending doom. By enhancing interoceptive connection, floating can help individuals better understand and regulate their bodily responses to anxiety.
Safe Environment for Exposure: For those with heightened anxiety, even the thought of new experiences can be daunting. The controlled and safe environment of a float tank can serve as a gentle form of exposure therapy, allowing individuals to confront and gradually desensitize themselves to certain triggers.
A Holistic Approach to Mental Well-being
It's important to note that while floatation-REST shows promise in addressing anxiety symptoms, it should be viewed as a complementary therapy. Traditional treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication, remain crucial. However, as we continue to understand the multifaceted nature of anxiety and its interplay with other disorders like AN, holistic approaches like floatation-REST offer a fresh perspective and an additional tool in the therapeutic arsenal.
Floatation-REST, with its unique sensory-deprived environment, offers a promising complementary approach to traditional treatments for both Anorexia Nervosa and broader anxiety disorders. Its ability to reduce body dissatisfaction, alleviate anxiety symptoms, and enhance interoceptive awareness makes it a valuable tool in the holistic treatment of mental health disorders.
While it's not a standalone cure, the initial findings are encouraging. It underscores the importance of integrating diverse therapeutic methods to address the multifaceted nature of disorders like AN and anxiety. As we continue to explore and validate the benefits of such therapies, it's crucial to consult with healthcare professionals to ensure a comprehensive and tailored treatment plan. Float tanks, in their tranquil embrace, might just offer many individuals the respite and clarity they need on their journey to mental well-being.
New Research Supports Float Therapy For Treatments of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is a notoriously difficult condition to treat but new research into float therapy has opened up a promising solution for supporting those with anorexia.
While much of the news and many scientists around the globe are still inundated by the pandemic, research continues to go on towards quieter pursuits. And as we continue to face stress and feelings of overwhelm, there’s some good in knowing that all hope is not lost for the things that make us feel good.
Floating is known to be an effective treatment for reducing generalized and acute anxiety and new research into the depths of float therapy is now looking at its effects on helping with anorexia and the immune system.
Dr. Sahib Khalsa has been looking at long-term research on anorexia nervous a patients over the last four years at the Float Clinic and Research Center at the LIBR (Laureate Institute for Brain Research). Anorexia continues to be one of the most severe mental disorders in terms of mortality rate and difficulty of treatment. Looking at the effects that floating might have in the treatment of anorexia nervous is highly important and shining a spotlight on the great benefits that natural and safe therapies like floating can have.
So far what the research is uncovering is that floating seems to benefit anorexia patients in two main areas - anxiety levels and body image.
The most significant findings from the research has been showing that floating helps in reducing the anxiety levels in patients, which reflects similar results on float therapy done in studies on healthy individuals as well as those who are dealing with chronic anxiety.
Anxiety levels in the patients with anorexia were reduced by up to 20%, and the biggest effect happens on those with the highest baseline anxiety levels. So floating is great for everyone with anxiety but has the most pronounced effect on those who are in need of the most relief. This is consistent with other research that regularly finds the greatest reductions in anxiety come to those dealing with the most severe anxiety.
The findings on adjusting perceived body image, while not at dramatic as the changes in anxiety levels, is still a significant result coming out of this research. Anorexia tends to be a long lasting and chronic condition in part because there’s a misalignment between the patients’ perceived body weight and real body weight and image. The patients incorporating float therapy saw a shift in how they viewed their body and their idea body type started to realign with a healthier body type. This change was viewed after only a few floats so as further evidence comes out, this result may become even more significant for what long-term float therapy can do for patients with anorexia and body image disorders.
Because of the nature of long-term research, the full results of Dr. Khalsa’s research won’t be complete until 2023 at the earliest but this information is still promising enough at this time to take note of.
If you know anyone with anorexia, consider inviting them in for a float or sharing this article with them to explore float centre’s in their hometown. Dr. Khalsa spent much of the early work into this research establishing the psychological and physical safety of floating for patients with anorexia to be assured there weren’t any contraindications.