# Isolation tank... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019 "2016-09-15T17:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/1 "2016-09-15T17:43:40Z")
…or the sensory deprivation tank. Has anyone been in one lately? It’s been more 30 years since I’ve stepped in one, however my claustrophobia has increased considerably since then. My first experience was quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/2 "2016-09-15T18:39:40Z")
Since the OP is asking about personal experiences, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/3 "2016-09-15T18:52:48Z")
Floating is the new thing for health nuts in my neck of the woods. Floatation Therapy is what I think it’s called. I was giving an hour float and I tried it. It was fun. I didn’t get into the whole meditation thing, but it was pretty relaxing when I wasn’t bouncing myself off the walls like an astronaut. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/4 "2016-09-15T19:10:06Z")
Try it with some peyote > **[Altered States](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_States)** > > Altered States is a 1980 American science fiction body horror film directed by Ken Russell, and based on the novel of the same name by playwright and screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky. The film was adapted from Chayefsky's 1978 novel and is his final screenplay. The novel and the film are based in part on John C. Lilly's sensory deprivation research conducted in isolation tanks, under the influence of psychoactive drugs like mescaline, ketamine and LSD. > It marked the film debut of William Hurt and Dr... ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/5 "2016-09-15T19:19:46Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Try it with some peyote > > [Altered States - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_States) Pros: Blair Brown Cons: Turning into a lizard ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/6 "2016-09-15T19:37:06Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Try it with some peyote We don’t really know what was in the mix. The shaman seemed to add something like mushrooms to the mix, IMHO. There is also a mention of mushrooms tossed about early on. Nothing to suggest peyote. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/7 "2016-09-15T19:41:06Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Try it with some peyote Oh, you do NOT want to barf in a float chamber. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/8 "2016-09-15T19:44:21Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Pros: Blair Brown > Cons: Turning into a lizard We have to take the good with the bad! ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/9 "2016-09-15T19:45:48Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > We don’t really know what was in the mix. The shaman seemed to add something like mushrooms to the mix, IMHO. There is also a mention of mushrooms tossed about early on. Nothing to suggest peyote. You are correct. Let the experimentation begin 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/10 "2016-09-15T20:23:58Z")
I did it about a year ago. I won’t say it was earth shattering for me, or anything. I mean, I haven’t gone back since, so it couldn’t have been too great. I had a very hard time shutting off my brain, but I must have at some point because turns out that I was in there for two hours (I had only paid for one, but the owner cryptically asked if I had anywhere to be afterward, and when I said no, let me stay in for two without telling me until afterwards). Definitely did not feel like I was in there that long. I could sort of feel by brain detaching a bit, and leaving the place and hitting the city streets afterwards was considerably more bright and overwhelming than usual. But, I didn’t have any sort of existential experience. That said, I’m probably not the best person for this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/11 "2016-09-16T07:23:31Z")
My roommate and I traveled from West Texas to visit a friend in Albuquerque right after _Altered States_ came out. (Jesus, was that really 36 years ago? :eek:) Quite a few folks in that city were cashing in on the movie’s popularity by obtaining an isolation tank and renting out time in it. I tried an hour in one and decided it was much ado about nothing. At that time, I was somewhat of an expert on altered states too. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/12 "2016-09-16T09:01:47Z")
I’m in one now. Four AM with jetlag. I also slept in one of those Capsule Hotels in Manila last month. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/13 "2016-09-16T14:32:12Z")
A psychonaut at heart (and formerly in practice) here, but no never actually been in one. Mostly because of my claustrophobia. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/14 "2016-09-16T14:34:37Z")
The one and only time I did it was on acid, but only a hit or two and it was because of Altered States. I’m a bad ass (in my mind, not scared of anything) when tripping, so the enclosed atmosphere wasn’t an issue. Best I can remember it was a very pleasurable experience. However, today I can’t imagine stepping into one. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/15 "2016-09-16T15:44:42Z")
I’ve posted this before - I went to college with a guy who spent a summer working at a sensory deprivation place. His job was cleaning the tanks between customers. According to him, most people moved their bowels and/or masturbated in them - and no, neither of those events was sufficient cause to change the water. So if you want to try one, find out their cleaning routines before stepping in. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/16 "2016-09-16T16:10:34Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’ve posted this before - I went to college with a guy who spent a summer working at a sensory deprivation place. His job was cleaning the tanks between customers. According to him, most people moved their bowels and/or masturbated in them - and no, neither of those events was sufficient cause to change the water. So if you want to try one, find out their cleaning routines before stepping in. That’s enough to never enter one again. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/17 "2016-09-16T19:24:04Z")
I work (occasionally) in an [anechoic chamber](http://www.npl.co.uk/image.php?id=rf_anechoic_chamber.jpg&width=400) (example from google). These are surprisingly creepy when you’re alone inside. I have to come out every so often to make sure the world is still there. I can’t imagine going into an isolation tank for entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/18 "2016-09-16T19:49:10Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’ve posted this before - I went to college with a guy who spent a summer working at a sensory deprivation place. His job was cleaning the tanks between customers. According to him, most people moved their bowels and/or masturbated in them - and no, neither of those events was sufficient cause to change the water. So if you want to try one, find out their cleaning routines before stepping in. Thanks for the image. I tried one once. Just a whole lotta nothin’ for me. It was like taking a shallow bath in a very dark room. The floating wasn’t too successful because my butt kept bouncing against the floor. I didn’t think my senses were deprived at all. I could feel the water, I could feel me floating (and bumping), I could even see a vague outline of my body when I looked down. If these things triggered hallucinations, or out of body experiences, then people could do the same thing in a dark bathroom. I didn’t feel any relaxation either because the whole thing seemed like a rip-off, so I was getting pissed. Just another disappointment in my life. At this rate, I wonder if any new experiences I have won’t be disappointing to me. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/19 "2016-09-16T19:55:43Z")
Seems like isolation tanks and anechoic chambers would be best used by people with some experience in meditation. > [@pullin](#): > > I work (occasionally) in an [anechoic chamber](http://www.npl.co.uk/image.php?id=rf_anechoic_chamber.jpg&width=400) (example from google). These are surprisingly creepy when you’re alone inside. I have to come out every so often to make sure the world is still there. Can you describe what it’s like and the psychological effect it has? > [@Doyle](#): > > The one and only time I did it was on acid, but only a hit or two and it was because of Altered States. I’m a bad ass (in my mind, not scared of anything) when tripping, so the enclosed atmosphere wasn’t an issue. Best I can remember it was a very pleasurable experience. However, today I can’t imagine stepping into one. How did the acid change the experience? ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolation-tank/766019/20 "2016-09-19T14:55:10Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > How did the acid change the experience? As I said, I’m a bit claustrophobic and the acid dispelled any of those fears. I remember a lot of animals (only in my mind) in my experience, but I used to always see animals when tripping. Lot of vivid colors - cliche, I know. That was only 30-45 minutes of the trip. Trips can go one for 12 hers. We were in Dallas, visiting my best fried who went to SMU, at the time and from there went to Six Flags. Believe me the roller coaster was the most intense experience of the evening.