Rebuilding Your Nervous System After CPTSD: A Little-Known Solution
For years, I wrestled with the overwhelming effects of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), feeling like my body and mind were trapped in a cycle of stress and survival. Then I stumbled across floating—sensory deprivation therapy—and it’s become one of the most unexpected yet powerful tools in my healing journey. If you’re wondering whether floating can help rebuild your nervous system after CPTSD, I’m here to share how it’s worked for me and why it might work for you too.
What Is CPTSD?
CPTSD isn’t just about one bad memory—it’s the result of prolonged trauma, like growing up in an unstable home or enduring years of emotional neglect. It left me with a nervous system that felt wired for danger, constantly buzzing with anxiety and tension that I couldn’t shake. Here’s a recollection of one time I was stuck in fight/fight mode for 4 days straight.
What Is Floating?
Floating means lying in a tank filled with warm water and Epsom salts, so buoyant that you feel weightless, with no light or sound to distract you. It’s like stepping into a quiet, safe bubble—a stark contrast to the chaos CPTSD often brings.
How Floating Helps with CPTSD Recovery
Floating has been a lifeline for me, offering relief in ways I didn’t expect. Here’s how it’s helped rebuild my nervous system:
Downregulating the Nervous System
CPTSD kept my fight-or-flight switch flipped on, pumping cortisol through my body like a never-ending alarm. Floating turns that down by lowering cortisol and boosting serotonin and dopamine—those happy chemicals I’d almost forgotten existed. After a session, I feel my racing heart slow, thanks to the parasympathetic nervous system kicking in, shifting me into “rest-and-digest” mode. It’s like my body finally gets permission to stop running from invisible threats.
Releasing Stored Trauma from the Body
Trauma doesn’t just haunt your thoughts—it lodges itself in your muscles and bones, leaving me with tight shoulders and a clenched jaw. Floating wraps me in a cocoon of safety, and that deep relaxation lets my body unwind decades of pent-up stress. One time, I felt my neck soften in the tank, and I realized I’d been carrying a lifetime of fear there without even knowing it.
Resetting Overstimulated Sensory Processing
Hypervigilance had me jumping at every noise or shadow, my senses dialed up to eleven all the time. The float tank strips away light, sound, and gravity, giving my overworked brain a chance to breathe. After my first float, I stepped outside and noticed the world didn’t feel as loud or chaotic—like my senses had finally found a dimmer switch.
Improving Emotional Processing & Awareness
With no distractions, floating drops me into a state that feels like deep meditation or dreaming, where my mind can sort through emotions I’d buried. I’ve had moments in the tank where old pain bubbled up, but instead of drowning in it, I felt clear-headed enough to let it go. Friends who’ve tried it tell me they’ve had breakthroughs too—sudden insights about their past that left them feeling lighter.
Supporting Neuroplasticity & Nervous System Repair
Floating boosts Theta brainwaves, which are all about relaxation and creativity, and it’s like a workout for my brain’s ability to heal itself. Over time, I’ve noticed my triggers don’t hit as hard—floating seems to help rewire those knee-jerk stress responses. It’s not instant, but it feels like my nervous system is learning new, healthier habits.
How to Use Floating for CPTSD Recovery
Ready to give floating a shot? Here’s how I’ve made it work for me:
Start Slow
I began with one session a week, just to test the waters—literally—and see how my body handled it. The first time, I felt a little restless, but by the second float, I could feel my nervous system starting to settle.
Pair It with Other Therapies
Floating shines even brighter when I combine it with somatic therapies like EMDR or breathwork, which dig into the trauma while floating helps me release it. I’ve also tried TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises), and it’s like they team up to shake loose the stress stuck in my body.
Add Mindfulness
During floats, I use deep breathing or a body scan—mentally checking in with each part of me—to sink deeper into relaxation. Focusing on my breath keeps me grounded and turns the tank into a mini healing retreat.
Take Time to Integrate
After a float, I sometimes feel raw or emotional, like old memories have floated to the surface. I give myself a quiet evening to journal or rest, letting those insights settle without rushing back into life’s noise.
Final Thoughts
Floating has become a cornerstone in my CPTSD recovery, helping me rebuild a nervous system that once felt broken beyond repair. It’s not a quick fix—if you’re really dysregulated, it might take a few sessions to feel at ease—but the relief I’ve found keeps me coming back. For me, it’s brought a calm I hadn’t felt in years, and I’ve heard the same from others who’ve given it a try.
If you’re curious about structuring a floating routine for nervous system healing, I’d love to help—drop a comment below! Have you tried floating yet? Share your experience—I’d love to hear how it’s worked for you.
