Floating with Claustrophobia

As one might imagine, when we start talking about enclosed, potentially dark, environments with water in them, the question/statement we often get first is about claustrophobia or how a person feels they could never “close themselves in something like that”.

First, I want to be clear that you absolutely don’t have to. All float vessels have doors or lids that are completely controlled by the user. The float tank is also in it’s own, private area so you’re welcome to leave the lid or door wide open for as long as you wish.

That said, the coach in my heart always has this follow on question:

Is it REALLY claustrophobia or is it really a deep-rooted need for control?

It’s an important question, because I’m a roots girl. It’s always my desire to identify what the deep-rooted need or fear is that’s driving the surface level behavior (in this case “fear of enclosed spaces”), because they require completely different levels of address.

Don’t get me wrong - claustrophobia is absolutely a real thing. It’s also a buzz word that we toss around a lot when the idea of something makes us uncomfortable.

In my experience, when the potential float client really stops to think about it, it’s far more a control thing than it is a true fear of small spaces. After all, float tanks aren’t really that small and we frequently enter spaces MUCH smaller than them in our day to day lives - our clothes closets, for instance, or perhaps a powder room, or even that walk-in beer cooler at the convenience store with the big metal door.

This is an important conversation, because there’s more information necessary that requires a float client to both enjoy the full experience of float AND feel comfortable enough to “let go” (which probably won’t fully happen the first session, regardless, until towards the end).

Trust me. I get it. I’ve floated hundreds of times at this point, but I spent the second five minutes (literally) of my very first float opening and closing the lid of the tank - until my brain was comfortable enough that I could close it and be able to open it again whenever I wanted.

The deep-rooted need for control makes perfect sense. It’s a part of our subconscious that’s constantly fighting to protect us from the unknown - to ensure no danger pops up when we’re unaware.

In this case, it’s less about whether you can leave the lid open or not - though that’s soothing to hear (because you have control). BUT there’s more! You ALSO have control of the lights - in the room AND in the tank. You ALSO have control over whether you want to listen to music or meditation or sound-healing. You ALSO have control of how you choose to move or be still during float….and what position you choose to lay in…AND you have control over when you choose to get out.

People have this misconception that they have to lay in a float tank and be perfectly still and completely shut their brain off for an hour in order for it to “work”. It’s simply not true.

The float tank is a tool - a powerful, incredible tool - that provides uninterrupted space for your body, heart, mind, and spirit to do what they need to do for themselves.

Some of the most powerful floats I’ve ever had were the ones when my brain never really seemed to stop - because it was telling me what I needed to know. It was telling me all of the things I couldn’t hear while I was out in the modern world being distracted by rushed schedules and constant phone notifications and chores and grocery lists and work deadlines and kids and partners and ..and…and…

I say all that to say - it’s a question worth asking yourself, because I’d hate for you to keep yourself from the long list of life-changing benefits consistent float time can offer if one enters the practice with willingness to explore and an open mind.

With all my love,

Beth

Also, if you’d like to follow along for more mindset work, you can join the free group “Coming Back to Life” on Facebook here. I primarily work with high level people who have a deep desire to live a life that FEELS as good on the inside as it appears from the outside.