Portland Float Therapy Eases Anxiety

Nia Linbravo referees women’s basketball games four to five nights a week. She also works in project management and previously served as a juvenile probation officer. Her demanding schedule made it difficult for her to slow down. She said she struggled with relaxing. A herniated disk and trouble sleeping led her to try float therapy. She reports that the experience has helped her manage a diagnosis of depression and anxiety.

Float therapy involves lying in a tub filled with nearly 1,000 pounds of magnesium dissolved in skin-temperature water. The solution is dense enough that the body cannot sink. Sessions typically last an hour or more. Participants can turn off all lights and block out all sound. Linbravo described the sensation as a form of release. She said, “I think it’s the weightlessness and the feeling of the water supporting me, and I’m literally just letting go.” She added that the tank is a space to reflect and calm her mind.

Dana Highfill has worked as a massage therapist for 17 years. She operates Float North in Northeast Portland. Highfill said most clients seek relief of some kind. She explained the physical component of the therapy. “You’re getting relief because it feels like you’re turning off gravity,” she said. “You’re laying there fully supported, your joints open up, and it helps reduce inflammation.” Studies cited in the industry suggest the practice can improve sleep and reduce pain.

Highfill noted that float therapy can support mental health care routines. She said, “You have reduced stimulation to your nervous system. You can go from fight or flight, which most of us live in, to a rest and repair state.” This shift allows the body to enter a rest and repair mode.

Many people worry that the tanks are confining. Highfill addressed this concern by noting that the spaces are larger than expected. A single tank measures eight feet long and four feet wide. The ceiling height is seven feet. The water depth is approximately 10 inches. Linbravo consulted her doctor about the practice. “I wanted to talk about different strategies and they were saying it would be helpful for me, and it has been,” she said. The doctor agreed that the therapy would be beneficial for her specific health needs.