EXTRA, EXTRA - Floating Can Help You Overcome Pain

I had another great float last night.  While in the tank my thoughts drifted to all of the great people that I have had the pleasure of coming in to contact with (via social media) since I have been documenting my daily floats.  I can only hope that a few people that are not familiar with floating or REST read my blog and try to book a session with their local center.  The more people that do it, will help to spread the word about how wonderful of an experience it truly is.  It is very hard to put into words.  It must be experienced.

Below is an excerpt from the introduction of  The Book of Floating by Michael Hutchinson.  Here he talks about what the research that was being done uncovered about floating and what he will go over in more detail in the body of the book.  If you haven't already, go buy a copy of this book.  It is worth it.

• About indications that floating stimulates the brain to secrete endorphins:
pain-killing, euphoria-creating substances known as the
"body's own opiates."
• That there is evidence that tank use not only can initiate substantial
weight loss but also has an unprecedented maintenance effect, with weight
loss continuing at the same degree for many months after floating.
• Of evidence that floating results in a spontaneous reduction in or
elimination of such habits as smoking, drinking, and drug use, and
counteracts addiction withdrawal symptoms.
 • That laboratory studies show that floating can rapidly and significantly
decrease stress and anxiety, by sharply lowering the levels of
biochemicals directly related to stress, anxiety, tension, the "fight or
flight response," and heart disease and other stress-related illnesses.
• About indications that floating can suspend the dominance of the detail-
oriented left hemisphere of the brain, allowing the right hemisphere
(which deals with large-scale and novel information) to operate freely,
giving the floater access to unusual powers of creativity, imagination,
visualization, and problem solving.
• How athletes use flotation to improve their performance significantly,
to speed their recovery from the stress of peak output, and virtually to
eliminate fatigue and "post-race letdown."
• How flotation tanks are being used in schools and universities as tools
for "superlearning," increasing the mind's powers of comprehension,
retention, and original thinking.
• Of indications that two hours of floating are more restful and restorative
than a full night of sound sleep, making floating, in the words
of one prominent scientist, "a method of attaining the deepest rest that
we have ever experienced."

Having floated about 30 times so far in my life, I know these things to be true.   If you suffer from Fibromyalgia or Migraines.  Give it a try.  You have nothing to lose except for the pain.