Have any of you tried the isolation chamber?

[aFireInside]

Im curious to know because it sounds like a cool concept. 

Especially since I'm really into self knowledge and or self-exploration.

 

I heard joe rogen talking about it, but he is into drugs so i don't know if i could really count on his recommendation. 

Especially since its about 40-80 dollars an hour in that thing. 

[dsayers]

I have no frame of reference. What is an isolation chamber?

[Prairie]

Isolation Tank: lightless, soundproof tank inside which subjects float in salt water at skin temperature. They were first used to test the effects of sensory deprivation. Such tanks are now also used for meditation and relaxation and in alternative medicine.

[dsayers]

My understanding was that it is harmful to deprive the brain of all sensory input. Didn't original testing of such things result in accelerated dementia in otherwise healthy individuals?

[aFireInside]

My understanding was that it is harmful to deprive the brain of all sensory input. Didn't original testing of such things result in accelerated dementia in otherwise healthy individuals?

 

Where did you hear this ? I don't understand why this would do this.

 

Can you explain ? 

I think you still have sensations but you have good sensations.

Because if we had no sensations at all that would mean we are dead. 

 

So in a sense the name is miss leading. For example you still feel temperature but its just very pleasant, not cold or hot. 

You still hear but its just quiet. 

You can still feel your skin and move around if you want. 

 

does that make sense ? 

[TheRobin]

How do you think this would help you gain self-knowledge? (Also, how "good" are you at meditating/relaxing without tools to help you? (As I could imagine that, if you have trouble meditating/relaxing at all then the isolation tank won't help you with it either))

[dsayers]

My apologies. It was just something I heard and repeated here without making any effort to substantiate it. It was irresponsible and I apologize. You wouldn't believe the amount of conclusions that were inflicted upon me as a child. Every day it seems I'm finding a new one that I haven't re-evaluated.

 

Yes, Ivan, your counterpoint does make sense.

 

Robin's post made me think about Stef's recent video about the nature of addiction. Specifically, the mention of a lack of self-soothing.

[aFireInside]

How do you think this would help you gain self-knowledge? (Also, how "good" are you at meditating/relaxing without tools to help you? (As I could imagine that, if you have trouble meditating/relaxing at all then the isolation tank won't help you with it either))

 

 

I dont understand your question can you please explain what tools you are taking about . 

 

What i was wondering is that if you are in an isolation chamber its just you alone with your thoughts. Your body is very conferrable and isn't in the way . 

So maybe i thought it could help with self knowledge since its a probably the most quiet places that you could go to... 

My apologies. It was just something I heard and repeated here without making any effort to substantiate it. It was irresponsible and I apologize. You wouldn't believe the amount of conclusions that were inflicted upon me as a child. Every day it seems I'm finding a new one that I haven't re-evaluated.

 

Yes, Ivan, your counterpoint does make sense.

 

Robin's post made me think about Stef's recent video about the nature of addiction. Specifically, the mention of a lack of self-soothing.

 

Its ok i don't know anything about this subject either, it just sounds interesting, i might try it some time. 

Unless there is some really bad side effect. 

 

Also, i remember people in my philosophy class long time ago where scared to go into one of these. 

Actually allot of people find it scary to be alone 

[wdiaz03]

I wonder how many people pee and play with themselves in these things. I hope they change the water often!

[TheRobin]

I dont understand your question can you please explain what tools you are taking about . 

 

What i was wondering is that if you are in an isolation chamber its just you alone with your thoughts. Your body is very conferrable and isn't in the way . 

So maybe i thought it could help with self knowledge since its a probably the most quiet places that you could go to... 

 

In this case I was thinkning of the isolation tank as a/the tool (but ofc there'd also be the use of certain substances that some people use to help them relax (not that I'd recommend that)).Basically what I was trying to ask is "If you lie in your couch at home, can you relax or is that something that's more difficult for you to do even in the comfort zone of your own home?"In regards to the body not being in the way: How is your body in the way now?

[cynicist]

Where did you hear this ? I don't understand why this would do this.

 

Can you explain ? 

I think you still have sensations but you have good sensations.

Because if we had no sensations at all that would mean we are dead. 

 

So in a sense the name is miss leading. For example you still feel temperature but its just very pleasant, not cold or hot. 

You still hear but its just quiet. 

You can still feel your skin and move around if you want. 

 

does that make sense ? 

 

That's incorrect. The point of isolation chambers is sensory deprivation. The goal is to restrict environmental stimulation. Honestly, it scares the shit out of me. Human beings were not designed to exist in an environment like that, and people who go through it experience hallucinations among other things. I mean, if solitary confinement is considered to be a kind of psychological torture, imagine what complete isolation from your environment must be like. Granted, the period of time spent there is limited in comparison, but still. I think the idea that you can gain self-knowledge through this act by limiting distractions is some bizarre zen buddhist nonsense, because the reality is that even if you only disrupted your ability to hear or see, that would be FAR more distracting than anything you normally experience when trying to meditate or focus on your thoughts. I doubt it has any long term negative effects if done for a short time period but I certainly wouldn't subject myself to it voluntarily. Check out this excerpt from Wikipedia:

 

 

"Total Isolation"

In January 2008, the BBC aired a Horizon special entitled "Total Isolation." The premise of the show centered on 6 individuals agreeing to be shut in a cell inside a nuclear bunker, alone and in complete darkness for 48 hours. Prior to isolation, the volunteers underwent tests of visual memory, information processing, verbal fluency and suggestibility.

After the two days and two nights the subjects noted that their inability to sense time, as well as hallucinations, made the experience difficult. Of the six volunteers, three experienced auditory and visual hallucinations - snakes, oysters, tiny cars and zebras. One was convinced their sheets were wet. Two seemed to cope well.

When complete, the same tests were conducted a second time. The results indicated all volunteers' ability to complete the simplest tasks had deteriorated. One subject's memory capacity fell 36% and all the subjects had trouble thinking of words beginning with a nominated letter; in this case, the letter "F". All four of the men (^[vague] neither of the two women) had markedly increased suggestibility.^[19]

"It's really hard to stimulate your brain with no light. It's blanking me. I can feel my brain just not wanting to do anything."

— Adam Bloom (volunteer subject) - "Total Isolation"

[aFireInside]

That's incorrect. The point of isolation chambers is sensory deprivation. The goal is to restrict environmental stimulation. Honestly, it scares the shit out of me. Human beings were not designed to exist in an environment like that, and people who go through it experience hallucinations among other things. I mean, if solitary confinement is considered to be a kind of psychological torture, imagine what complete isolation from your environment must be like. Granted, the period of time spent there is limited in comparison, but still. I think the idea that you can gain self-knowledge through this act by limiting distractions is some bizarre zen buddhist nonsense, because the reality is that even if you only disrupted your ability to hear or see, that would be FAR more distracting than anything you normally experience when trying to meditate or focus on your thoughts. I doubt it has any long term negative effects if done for a short time period but I certainly wouldn't subject myself to it voluntarily. Check out this excerpt from Wikipedia:

 

 

I know that is the goal of it, but i don't think they accomplish it because your senses are still working.

My point was that you can't turn of your senses. i wasn't clear. 

 

Anyways thanks for your reply, that was what i have read online by people who think its not helpful 

In this case I was thinkning of the isolation tank as a/the tool (but ofc there'd also be the use of certain substances that some people use to help them relax (not that I'd recommend that)).Basically what I was trying to ask is "If you lie in your couch at home, can you relax or is that something that's more difficult for you to do even in the comfort zone of your own home?"In regards to the body not being in the way: How is your body in the way now?

 

By your body being in the way i meant things like sound and body pain... 

 

But thats a good point. I can't relax in my house but what if i just go lay down in the beach when its empty or something, would it be a different experience ? 

[dsayers]

Ivan, have you checked out the video Stef put out after Hoffman died? It can be found

. The first half of it talks about the way abuse can physiologically alter the brain's chemical balances. It was very instructive and helped me to understand the problem of lack of self-soothing. I might be projecting my experience onto you, but this sounds kind of like what you're describing.

[Gunnhvatr]

I mean, if solitary confinement is considered to be a kind of psychological torture, imagine what complete isolation from your environment must be like. Granted, the period of time spent there is limited in comparison...

 

I don't know anything about these tanks but if I recall correctly there has been study on pain that showed that if you have control of how much pain you experience: you can withstand significantly more pain than you would if it was out of your hands.

Since the meditation in the tank is entirely voluntary I can't assume that it would be a harmful experience.  If one did not like it they could sit up and leave.

[ribuck]

... if I recall correctly there has been study on pain that showed that if you have control of how much pain you experience: you can withstand significantly more pain than you would if it was out of your hands.

 

I remember the same study, but...

 

If I prick myself on a thorn, the pain is nothing. If I pick up that same thorn and try to prick myself, it's too painful to do deliberately.

[Gunnhvatr]

I think there is stuff in the nervous system to stop something like that before it even gets to your brain, like when you pull away from a scalding.  What if you had a button to trigger the sensation of getting pricked?  I'm sure you could press it.