Medicine-Naturals :: Alternative
Cures for your Psyche – Sensory Deprivation Methods ::
Short periods
of sensory deprivation can be relaxing.
Sensory deprivation can be achieved by using such simple devises such as
blindfolds and earmuffs. Devices that
are more complex can cut the sense of smell, touch taste, sense of heat or cold
and gravity. Sensory deprivation methods
have been used in psychology experiments and for torture. Extensive sensory deprivation can result in
hallucinations, depression, bizarre thoughts, and extreme anxiety. The five methods of sensory deprivation are:
1.
Confined to a room with loud and/or hissing noises.
2.
Deprivation of sleep.
3.
Putting a hood over the head to keep out any sight or
sense of light
4.
Standing for long periods in a “stress position.”
5.
Deprivation of food and drink.
We are going
to concentrate on the good that Sensory Deprivation Methods can do for your
psyche.
One form of
sensory deprivation to increase relaxation is called a float tank. This float tank is kept at skin temperature,
and you are kept buoyant in a pool of water that is 25% saturated with Epsom
salts. This makes the water denser and
more buoyant than seawater. The float
tank shuts out 90% of the environmental stimulation that affects the muscles,
nervous system and sense organs of the body.
Without the external stimulants, your body can relax and feel you body
go to a deeply relaxed state.
Your ears are
under water so sound is blocked out. Some float tanks have gentle music that is
piped in to heighten the relaxation process.
It makes you feel like you are floating on a sea of music. While relaxing in warm water, listening to
gentle music your mind can focus on other thoughts and not just on your body
which results in a state of relaxation more restful than sleep.
Stress related
chemicals such as adrenaline, cortical, and lactate are removed from the blood
stream and replaced by the endorphins.
These endorphins are natures own body drug that makes people happy. This increases feelings of well-being,
relieves chronic pain and fatigue, and improves higher brain function such as
memory and learning. Best of all, no
special training is required, just lie back, and let your mind and body go.
While your
body is in a state of total relaxation, your brain remains awake. It doesn’t have to work on processing signals
from you nervous system and sense organs so it can go into a slow dreamy state
known as theta state. While your brain
is in this mode, your creative and inspirational thought processes are
enhanced. You find your self in this
theta state the whole time you are in the float tank. You can not reach the theta state unless you
are sleeping, but in the float tank it is easily acquired.
Those of us
who have demanding life styles can benefit from the float tank as it
immediately can reduce blood pressure and heart rate. Other tension related maladies such as
migraines, insomnia and back pain are also helped. The mental and physical effects of being
buoyant in the water improve your sense of well-being and your powers of self
control. Unwanted habits and negative
emotions seem to melt away with the tensions and stresses that accompany them.
Athletes are
using the floating technique to enhance their performance and stamina. Carl
Lewis prepared for the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and won the gold medal. The Dallas
cowboys are said to have been using float tanks since 1981 to help the physical
and psychological skills of the team.
The Australian Institute of Sports began using float tanks in 1983. They find that floating can maximize the
benefits of fitness training. The deep
relaxation of the float tank speeds up the growth and regeneration of muscle
tissue. Floating has also been found to
speed recovery from injuries and the endorphins that are released help reduce
the pain.
Float tanks
have been used in clinical laboratory conditions and studies show that there
are no negative side effects of floating.
It’s noted that floating gives you all the benefits of sleep and greatly
improves the quality of day to day living by helping your body to relax and
your mind become more efficient.
0 komentar:
Post a Comment