When Australian soldier Michael Harding was medically discharged from the army with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a tour of duty in Afghanistan, he was withdrawn, unemotional and suffered from debilitating nightmares and night sweats. He tried talk therapy, medication, yoga, meditation and medicinal pot but his anxiety and muscle spasms continued.

On the encouragement of his wife, Michael agreed to try floating, even though he thought it sounded like a “sham.” He fell asleep during his first float and awoke feeling refreshed. By three floats, his anxiety and hyper-vigilance had subsided. By three months, his night sweats had also subsided. In an article about floating published in TIME magazine, the former soldier also reported feeling more confident as a result of floating.

That same article explored the work of scientists like neuropsychologist Justin Feinstein, founder of the Float Clinic and Research Center at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Oklahoma. He and his team have found that floating tamps down anxiety in the brain in a way that rivals some prescription drugs and meditation.

A February 2018 study published in the PLOS Journal found that a mere one-hour float significantly reduced anxiety, stress, muscle tension, pain and depression while increasing feelings of serenity, relaxation, happiness and overall well-being.

The Human Performance Laboratory at Karlstad University in Sweden has studied floating for more than two decades. Its research shows numerous benefits, including diminished pain from chronic muscle tension, reduced anxiety, depression and stress, as well as increased energy.

“After flotation, people are happier, sleep better and consume less alcohol and medicine,” its research says. Many people experience a deep sense of rest and relaxation, which gives the body time to re-establish its relaxation response. “Relaxing in the flotation tank leads to a sense of subtly changed consciousness, an experience of the present moment or mindfulness, which is the opposite of our usual states of stress.”

How does floating help us reduce stress? First, the water’s magnesium inhibits ACTH, a hormone that drives your adrenal glands to release the stress hormone cortisol, while allowing your body to release large amounts of endorphins (which offer pain relief) and dopamine (a.k.a. the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter). Magnesium also improves sleep quality, which contributes to feeling less stressed.

Next, floating’s unique environment is free of external stimulation, which is proven to increase feelings of serenity and relaxation while decreasing feelings of anxiety and tension – which last long after your session is finished. At the same time, the buoyancy you enjoy allows the chronic muscle and joint pain you feel to ease as your body begins to recover naturally.