Finding the big picture in the void: My first foray into sensory deprivation

I can add another experience to my list of immersive journalism. This time, I mean it in the truest sense.

I dove headfirst into a story that will soon appear in our Health and Wellness magazine.

I started by visiting Float Robins to take photos. This wellness spot in Warner Robins has been offering relaxation services since 2019.

Once I finished taking photos, I got in my car, grabbed my phone, and quickly reserved a spot for their most popular treatment: float therapy, also called sensory deprivation.

Imagine being completely suspended in water, with no sights or sounds. It’s just you, your thoughts, and 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt.

Who would be brave (or crazy) enough to try this for an hour? That would be me.

But I’m really glad I went for it.

A few days later, coming off of celebrating the New Year, I returned to Float Robins for the big show. I texted some friends, and one said she felt like she was having a panic attack in the tank.

To get ready, I watched a YouTube video about what the experience might be like. The one I found, featuring Rhett and Link, showed them nearly losing their minds as they came out of the chamber.

Between that and my friend’s account, I was more than a little nervous.

Fortunately, I stayed hopeful. The owner had told me they would guide you through the process and answer any questions. I arrived 15 minutes early for a full tour, and my nerves soon turned into excitement.

Finally, it was time to wash the perfume from my hair, step into the tank, and drift into relaxation. I had a whole hour to do nothing.

After my shower, I was supposed to turn off the lights in the float room, but I forgot and went straight to the futuristic, egg-shaped float tank.

I grabbed the supplied earplugs, but forgot to put them in. There was also a foam pillow for head support, so I tried using that for a bit.

I could hear my heartbeat and breathing echoing off the walls, so I finally put in the earplugs. A small sliver of light peeked in because I’d forgotten to turn off the lights, so I closed my eyes.

The pillow felt strange on my neck, so I risked getting salty water in my eyes and took it away.

At first, the high salt concentration affected my senses. The water felt almost like gelatin. I was floating above the ground, which surprised me since it was only 10 inches deep.

My nose got used to the water’s scent, and eventually my body forgot I was floating in a super-salty pool.

I kept forgetting to breathe, thinking my body would just do it on its own. With nothing else to distract me, focusing on my breathing became my main activity for a while.

Then I started hallucinating. Sometimes, before I fall asleep, I see swirls of color as my brain tries to fill the emptiness left by the absence of visual input. Usually, they’re faint and disappear quickly.

But since I wasn’t trying to sleep, the color swirls stayed. They were mostly gray, with hints of iridescent color throughout. They looked a bit like galaxies.

What really surprised me were the thoughts that started popping up. My mind already tends to wander, and being alone without any outside input made it even more intense.

I found myself analyzing the colors and shapes, and then this thought came to me:

“Stop worrying about the tiny details. Focus on the bigger picture.”

I began applying that idea to other things that make me anxious, and it really helped me see the bigger picture.

I also thought about how beautiful the color swirls were, and my mind connected it to God:

“The same God who made giant gorgeous galaxies also made the tiniest flowers beautiful. He truly cares about His creation.”

Then I started thinking about creativity and the creative process, and had this thought:

“I’m literally doing nothing, but I think I have a gift of creating something out of nothing.”

Maybe that applies to finding new solutions, painting from imagination, or turning facts into something people want to read. I like to think it’s all three.

Near the end of the session, my mind started to wander in a new direction:

“You are more in tune with the ocean of life. You may have been a guppy back in the day, but you have evolved into a powerful shark. (I wonder if that will ever end up being my favorite animal? Probably not; I’ll always love octopuses.)

“Right now, you’re not in an ocean, although it’s certainly salty enough. You are physically in a float tank in Warner Robins, but mentally and spiritually, you are in a void. But it’s not aimless, it’s a transition to stepping into God’s promise. You’ve come so far, and there’s still so much on the way. And God is there with you the whole time. (I should really write this down.)”

I’m not sure if it was just good timing, but right when I thought, “write this down,” music started playing to signal that my session was over. The soothing sounds brought me back to reality.

I turned on the light in the pod, I sat up and started to process everything. Then I just laughed.

Washing off the Epsom salt in the shower felt amazing. My senses were sharper, my mind clearer, and my back pain had disappeared.

Many people say they get similar benefits from float therapy, like reduced stress and increased creativity. The high Epsom salt content is also believed to help with pain and muscle relaxation.

Would I try this again? Absolutely! And next time, I want to bring my husband.

If you’re interested, a session at Float Robins is $69 for an hour. You can book easily on their website, floatrobins.com. It’s a small price for such a unique and possibly life-changing experience.

What will you find in the void?