I went to a float tank with my mom and she would always tell me how relaxing it was and how much of a destresser it was to float. I have been looking for something that I can do to help with my amount of stress and anxiety. And because college applications are done I decided to relax. I figured that floating would be a good experience and could maybe be something that could help me with shutting off my mind for about 30 minutes so I could chill. 

Once I got the float place I undressed and took a shower to get all of the natural oils off of my body so it didn’t affect my float experience. There was one rule which was to turn off all electronics. I like this idea because I think a lot of our stress as humans comes from phones and also stops us from mentally relaxing. I got into the float tank, I decided to keep the light and music on because I’m scared of being alone and I also hate silence because that is when I think too much and think bad things which are not good nor healthy for me. 

I was very skeptical at first about being able to float and I also had a hard time trusting the water. I think that learning to trust the water is a normal thing for someone’s first float but I think it was worst for me because I have trust issues because of some personal things that have happened to me in my life. Once I was able to relax and trust the water, I was able to just float and shut off my mind. 

I meditated for about 10-15 minutes, and it felt amazing. I was able to have my mind shut off and be in the moment. I didn’t find my mind drift and I didn’t think about things that I had to get done or any worries that I had. It felt like an out of body experience, like I wasn’t even there which was a crazy but cool feeling. I think it was a good change from always being worried about stuff I have to get done or overthinking everything. 

After those amazing 10-15 minutes my ADHD kicked in and I couldn’t stay still and I also got really bored. I kept trying to be still and relax but I just couldn’t. At this point when I was bored but kept trying to meditate again, I floated up to the light and my hair covered the light. So when I opened my eyes because of how restless I was and it was pitch black I almost screamed, then I sat up and laughed at myself. 

All I could think about was how I was done with this and I just wanted to get out. I kept asking myself “when will the music change so I can get out”. I started moving around in the water a lot and I was pushing myself from wall to wall while I was floating. Basically, I started swimming in 10 inches of water and playing with the light to see how dark I could get the room. 

Along with me swimming in the water, my skin started to feel very dry and itchy because of all the salt in the tank. My scalp also started to burn and itch also because of the dryness of my skin due to the salt. At this point, I was very ready to get out of the tank but I wanted to suck it up and stay in to get the full experience and to finish my float time. 

The music finally changed and it was time to get out my first thought was “Thank god” but then I thought “I’m so dumb why did I let myself swim in 10 inches of water”. I got out of the float tank and right into the shower. I had a HUGE knot in my hair and it looked like a rats nest. I washed my hair and body really good because I wanted to make sure all the salt was gone. After washing my hair the knot got worse and a good 10 minutes of my shower was me getting rid of the knot with at least a pound of conditioner. Then when I was done in the shower I got dried off and put my clothes back on. 

I personally don’t think I would ever do a float tank again because of how badly my skin felt and how bored I got. I think maybe I would do it again if there was a float time for 30 minutes because the might work better if I only really meditated and relaxed for 10-15 minutes. The one thing I will remember the most is the fact that I actually and stupidly started swimming in 10 inches of water because I feel like that is something only I would do. 

I will never forget how amazing it felt for me to relax and meditate which I really enjoyed. The one thing I did learn is that I think for me to have a break from my mind, maybe I don’t have to sit and meditate, instead, I can do something more physical so I don’t get bored but also get a break from my mind too. I need to find a happy medium, and for 11 years riding horses had been my break for me. I have been looking for new things to try. But nothing will beat the feeling riding gives me.