# I spend an hour in a sensory deprivation chamber **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461 "2016-10-23T13:08:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/21 "2016-10-24T16:27:48Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > They also have dry salt or [halotherapy](http://bodymindfloatcenter.com/about-salt-therapy-1/). What’s your medical opinion of halotherapy, **Qadgop**? I believe that for salt therapy to be beneficial, it needs to be in an aerosol with water. It’s helpful that way for CF patients, I know that for a fact. I don’t know of any evidence showing that just being near powdered dry salt confers benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/22 "2016-10-24T16:28:49Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > What would happen if you actually fell asleep? In the chamber? You’d get a nice nap and wake up when the lights came on, or at least when the jets came on. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/23 "2016-10-24T16:40:55Z")
I did that several times in the 1980’s, when I was a grad student in Madison. Loved it. Had wonderful experiences. I didn’t know they were still around. If I didn’t live out in the boonies where there are no such things, I’d go right now. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/24 "2016-10-26T14:02:26Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > I did that several times in the 1980’s, when I was a grad student in Madison. Loved it. Had wonderful experiences. I didn’t know they were still around. If I didn’t live out in the boonies where there are no such things, I’d go right now. Might have gone to the same place in '81. No longer there. No psychological breakthroughs, no Scooby Doo, but the best nap I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/25 "2017-03-29T19:27:12Z")
OK, I’m bumping this thread as the Mrs. and I took a second ‘float’, an hour session again. The first time was no One Trick Pony. For me, conditions were much the same, in that I opted for total darkness, total silence yet again. This experience was much more mellow. No Scooby-Doo, nothing trippy. No naps either. Just wonderful relaxation, loosening of muscles that I’d not even realized were tight, and annoyance when the time was up. Another 30-60 minutes would have been nice. NOT ready for the ‘overnight specials’ they offer, the 8 hour long sessions. The earplugs were used this time, and that was a plus. No crusty salt film coming out my ears for days, no vertigo afterwards. Note to self: Put the petroleum jelly on even the tiniest of open cuts; my hangnail was killing me for the first 5 minutes of the float. The Mrs. opted for darkness and music, but got annoyed with the music and eventually shut it down. Otherwise she found it about as restful as I did. I think this will be my version of a spa day: Float for an hour or two, visit a museum, do some fine dining. Finish the day with the clouds and the rain. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/26 "2017-03-29T22:01:36Z")
What were your thoughts this time? No intrusive work or chore thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/27 "2017-03-29T22:17:14Z")
[Simpsons did it, Simpsons did it](https://www.google.com/search?q=simpsons+sensory+deprivation&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/28 "2017-03-29T22:43:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Yesterday I paid a visit to a place in Milwaukee where one can crawl into an egg-shaped pod filled with warm water absolutely saturated with epsom salts. ! I know of no other way to endure living in Milwaukee. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/29 "2017-03-30T16:28:06Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > What were your thoughts this time? > No intrusive work or chore thoughts? Relatively pedestrian. Annoying thoughts were easily dismissed. > [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I know of no other way to endure living in Milwaukee. Hey, I live in _rural_ Wisconsin (Motto: Smell our dairy air!) Milwaukee is where we go to endure _that_! ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/30 "2017-03-30T19:53:09Z")
There is a spa, just outside of Ottawa that offers a similar float experience in a huge underground pool. I think I will try the float sessions. Thanks Qadgop! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/31 "2017-03-30T20:14:42Z")
Ummm…when do we tell him that he’s still in the tank, and that he has only been in there for 8 minutes? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/32 "2017-03-30T20:24:50Z")
Because of this thread, I did a session at a nearby spa. They didn’t have tanks, but instead a sort of cabin. It was basically a big bathtub (maybe 7’ by 5’ in area) filled a foot of epsom-filled water. The water was continuously warmed to approximately the temperature where you didn’t feel it, though it felt a little cool to me. With the light out the room was pitch black and silent. I did 90 minutes. It was interesting. I had a hard time ignoring by body, which I guess is the point for some people. My breath was loud, especially with earplugs in. I kept getting little itches on my face, and scratching would make waves or get salt on my face. And I couldn’t quite get my head position right for completely relaxed floating. But even so…I found the experience deeply relaxing. The coolest thing I discovered to do with myself was think back to a childhood memory. My recall was much better without any other sensory input. I could remember visuals associated with common memories that I hadn’t recalled before, along with smells of things from my childhood. That was fun. Not sure I liked it more than a comparably priced massage. But I’ll probably give it one more shot. Thanks Qadgop. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/33 "2017-03-30T23:14:02Z")
Sounds very interesting. Like the effect of a really good massage. How long would you say the relaxation lasted ? Did the relaxation improve your mood, too? How long? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461/34 "2017-03-30T23:58:26Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Sounds very interesting. Like the effect of a really good massage. How long would you say the relaxation lasted ? Did the relaxation improve your mood, too? How long? I found positives lingered for a couple of days. Including both physical and mental mellowness. I’ve long indulged in both therapeutic and relaxational massage, and at the moment I find myself preferring the float as a treat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spend-an-hour-in-a-sensory-deprivation-chamber/769461.md?page=1)