I took part in sensory deprivation today. It is an experience I recommend everyone try! Here I'll share my thoughts and feelings about the experience.
I arrived at the resort and had to sign a form and declare that I was not contagious or wounded. I was then taken in to the tank room once it was available, and told how to use everything. You shower beforehand to make sure no oils are brought in to the tank, and go in with no clothes on so you fully experience the er, nothingness.
The tank is massive, and has more salts than the dead sea so you're completely floating. When I was driving to the lodge I wondered how people relax as surely your feet are touching the end of the tank, but it is huge. I had a good 3 feet+ surrounding me. I could reach the edges if I reached out to try, but I didn't bash in to the sides when floating.
At first it was a bit scary. I kept the blue light on to try and get used to the feeling of floating. I'm one of those that has never managed to float in swimming pools or the sea, my arse and head always want to sink. I turned the light off to then experience the sensory deprivation. I had earplugs in and there was nothingness. (Then a loud whirr from a different room in the spa, that was a bit scary)
I had to turn the light back on after a few minutes, as I had an overwhelming sense of danger. It felt a bit like when you're a child lying on top of your bed because it's too hot, and you need to get under the covers straight away because the monsters will get you without it.
To my right was a button to call reception if you need help. To the left beside the light switch is a spray bottle which included regular water. This is to spray in your eyes if you accidentally get the tank water in them, with it being salt it would STING. Then you'd be thrashing about in the tank in pain, causing more splashes going in to your eyes. A continuous cycle of definitely-not-relaxing. I avoided scratching my face or rubbing my eyes while in the tank.
Once I was fully used to the tank, I turned the light off again. This is when It started to get interesting. I fully relaxed my muscles including my neck, and allowed my body to just float. The water is body temperature so it feels like nothing at all. It's a weightless feeling, like being in space. It was dark but I had my eyes open, and I felt a strange spinning sensation. It felt like I could feel the world moving. On a few occasions it got so realistic that I had to reach out to the edges of the tank to feel where I was, and I was completely still in the center. It was weird
I could also see some shapes, nothing extreme but some grey and black swirls in front of me. It wasn't scary. One of the most bizarre things, was that I could hear my eyeballs moving. When I looked around I could actually HEAR my eyes moving.
After having the light off for most of my session I thought it must be nearing an end so I turned it back on. I was then looking at my arms and hands, feeling very strange. I could see patches of colour moving, and noticed the texture of my skin. I went on my front for a while (I had to use the muscles in my neck now, or i'd be face down and dead) and felt like the baby from the Nevermind album cover.
I knew the time was up when I heard the tribal music start up again. It seemed like a mismatch with the feel of the tank, and took me a few moments to work out what the noise was before taking out my earplugs.
I showered thoroughly as he said I would crystallize if I didn't wash it off properly. I had to get dressed to go out to get a hairdryer and dry my hair publicly which I hated, I dry my hair before I get dressed or I get sweaty and my wet hair (Which is down to my butt in length) makes my clothes soggy. I was awkwardly placed at a mirror in front of a wooden sauna so I was conscious of disturbing them. There was a lady in reception staring at me and it was obvious she was next, so I felt rushed and had to switch the hairdryer on to the hot setting to leave quicker. Sweaty Dani. Once I was back on the road a while later though I felt a bit more appreciative of the experience. It wasn't cheap, but I will probably do it again some day.
