The revival of sensory deprivation tanks (2014) | Hacker News Reader

The revival of sensory deprivation tanks (2014)

nautil.us

25 pointsdnetesn18 comments

The headline is click-bait, the article itself interesting. As it says, sensory deprivation is nothing new (there was even a Simpsons episode about it; Lisa in an isolation tank). The difference, of course, between the titular yoga studio and a CIA's torture site is that in the former, the person being deprived of stimuli is in control, while at the CIA it's the torturer.

I figure that used in torture, sensory deprivation forces the subject to fear the unknown future. Used in therapy, sensory deprivation allows the subject to focus on the certain present.

> The headline is click-bait

Indeed. We changed it in accordance with the HN guidelines.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

I went into a sensory deprivation tank in Phoenix twice. Many of the people I met there had enjoyed it but I found it difficult to reign in my thoughts.

I felt like I was moving very fast at some times though - in the complete darkness and enclosed tank.

The experience changes over time. I didn't particularly enjoy my first session in the tank, but by my fourth or fifth time, I became a lot more comfortable and started to better understand how to use the space. At this point, I've probably done around 150 sessions.

Just wondering, do you do this as recreation? As part of training for something? A way to relax?

I occasionally float just to relax or recover from working out/jiu-jitsu, but it's mostly as a complement to my meditation practice.

The cost per session where I went was about $60. It's tough to buy into the "it'll be helpful eventually" at those burn rates - but I can see its relaxing potential.

I've done it a few times myself as well. Do you find that your mind is much more single threaded than you would have expected beforehand?

Single threaded, meaning more focused? Also, during or after the float?

I find the title disturbing. Maybe my sense of humor is off today, but the whole issue of the US government torturing people, and getting away with it, sickens me. Using the issue for humor in a title implies it's inconsequential at this point; it's too soon and maybe will be too soon until the perpetrators are brought to justice.

It's black humour and has it's place in our culture.

>The purpose of black comedy is to make light of serious and often taboo subject matter; some comedians use it as a tool for exploring vulgar issues, thus provoking discomfort and serious thought as well as amusement in their audience.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_comedy

Black humor has to still have a joke in it.

Would you like me to explain the joke?

Would you prefer "CIA enhanced interrogation manuals"?

Fascinating subject. Reminded me of Ken Russell's Altered States (1980):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_States

Waiting for someone to write the article that includes a reference to Tom Clancy's "The Cardinal of the Kremlin" -- a great read; that was Clancy at his peak.

I've done two sessions in one of these and can't recommend them highly enough. For me, two hours is the appropriate minimum time (and I'd like to try longer). The first hour seems to be getting settled down and in the zone, the second hour is much more enlightening.

It wasn't exactly what I expected going in but was actually much more revealing. I found myself coming to head with some very powerful emotions... gut level instinctual emotions that reside in more than just the brain. After getting settled in well, these seem to come up on their own with no connection to external thoughts. It was quite an exhilarating experience seeing what it really is that drives me (us) around. It definitely helped change my attitudes on some things and let go of some negative feelings that had been pestering me. For a couple of days afterwords I felt so aware, so present and I got a whole lot done.

I have done yoga off and on for 20 years or so and engaged in meditation with about the same intermittent frequency, so I think maybe that helped the experience. IDK. I understand everyone doesn't get something out of it, but for my part, I highly recommend trying a float tank if you can.

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