Data suggests that between 33% and 42% of adults experience insomnia each year, and the numbers are certainly not decreasing. The increase of stress, high blood pressure, multitasking, and busyness are some of the leading causes of insomnia, and it can be hard for sufferers to slow down enough to reach the necessary level of relaxation required for sleep.

Because insomnia affects so many people, so-called experts are constantly claiming to have finally developed a cure. This requires people to proceed with caution when seeking treatment for insomnia. The good news is that one treatment method is gaining some serious traction among medical experts and sufferers alike. The name of it is floatation therapy.

What is Floatation Therapy?

Floatation therapy is a medical treatment that uses sensory deprivation and anti-gravity effects to relieve physical and mental stress. Widely used by athletes, students, and artists, floatation therapy has proven to be extremely effective in promoting deep muscular relaxation, rejuvenating energy levels, enhancing creativity, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and more. Floatation therapy is conducted in a dark tank filled with 10 inches of Epsom salt water and is designed to promote deep relaxation.

How Does Floatation Therapy Combat Insomnia?

For many sufferers of insomnia, floatation therapy has proven quite effective. Many floaters fall asleep during floatation therapy and experience levels of extreme relaxation. Some doctors suggest 1 hour of sleep in a float tank is equivalent to 8 hours of normal sleep. This is believed to be true for a number of reasons, but here are two big ones:

• Floatation therapy helps people mentally de-stress. This makes it easier for the brain to downshift from alpha waves into theta waves. Theta waves, which are the gateway to sleep, allow the body to transition into the delta waves required for REM. While prolonged sleep is usually not possible in a float tank, the therapy session allows people to sleep better during the night.

• The anti-gravity effect the tank produces is physically refreshing. Many sufferers of insomnia find it difficult to relax their muscles at night. Floatation therapy removes the effects of gravity on the body and allows muscles to reach deep levels of relaxation. This is particularly useful for those suffering from back and neck pain.

Floatation therapy has dozens of additional benefits, but these two are especially helpful for those who find it hard to sleep at night. If you suffer from insomnia, contact Northwest Float Center today to find out how a floatation session can help you.